3 February
THIS is the time of the year when the universities respectively hold the convocations, when the candidates can set up their own milestones commemorating the fruits and flowers achieved after four years of university studies and when each, to his or her delight and pride, receives a particular academic degree. Moreover, this period of the year sees a series of graduation rehearsals and convocations with each graduate-to-be busy doing themselves up in order to be recognized as the best looking one. We did the same in our young days; we used to take different photos of us both at the studios and on the stage.
However, we never took photos by wearing only one part of the academic dress. (If the registrar and the Head of department saw me doing so, I would not be allowed to attend the convocation but to let go home.)
Over the past three or four years, academic dresses have been inappropriately abused in terms of a fashion trend; the ultimate aim is to take photos. Honestly saying, I used to loathe the sight of people doing so. As per what was advised by our teacher and the knowledge derived from what we learned, a graduate-to-be must respect and cherish his or her academic dress.
Even in the western countries, known to be running ahead of the trend, students wear their academic dresses with a great deal of respect. I have seen them raising the caps only. They are hardly found misbehaving, say, wearing cap, gown and hood separately. I was wondering who started all this stuff. Some may be taking photos while writhing on the ground or lawn with full academic dresses, which, in that case, seem reduced to dirty cloths. (Were I in charge, I would drive them away when I saw such things.) When I was at Mandalay University and, there once I discovered those doing so, I was not reluctant to forbid them. Our rector and professor did not support such things either. But there’s nothing I could do if they did so behind my back.
Have our youths had gone spoilt, being fraught with misconceptions regarding things to be cherished, which prompt them to deviate from what is right. We found some taking photos with their hoods kept upside down. Do they even know that ‘Hood represents the academic degree they have acquired’? Is that because their parents have just a little knowledge or because it is believed to be their right to clothing? Too bad some parents even are the encouragement!
Honestly saying, I cannot bear the sight that academic dresses are being treated disrespectfully. No matter if I am considered traditional, I am disappointed by the youths thumbing their noses at what should be valued. Nothing, however, can be helped since all are turning their blind eyes to such an inappropriateness.
I’m not a pessimist, but we all know that a national flag is as respected by the people of the country it represents as the yellow robes are revered by the monks. Likewise, an academic dress solely belonging to the educated ought to be fully clad. It will surely be awkward to see someone wearing a Burmese traditional jacket and style pant. What if you see someone wearing only a cap with other ordinary everyday clothes? Accordingly, it is important that you be proud to wear a full academic dress.
Some even ask if academic dresses are that crucial. I still would like to tell them that academic dresses are not at all meant for fashion.
By Thu Naung Kyaw(Hledan)
Dip. in English (YUFL)
