Lt Col Dhoni wins hearts

Seven years after he hit the sixer that won India the World Cup, former India skipper M.S. Dhoni marched past rows of dignitaries in Rashtrapatri Bhawan in his military uniform to receive the Padma Bhushan from President Ram Nath Kovind. The march and the uniform made a statement of national pride that stole the show and won hearts. 

“Uniforms have their own significance. It speaks of the responsibility, authority, control and power associated with your profession. Uniforms keep you motivated towards your work and bring the right attitude and personality required for your job. What could be a better uniform to receive such a prestigious award? Our military is an honour to the country and so is former captain Dhoni. No other outfit would have done justice to this occasion. He looked so graceful and confident when he marched donning a military uniform. An absolute pride,” says fashion designer Sunil Mehra. 

Former cricketer Balwinder Sandhu feels that everyone was touched by the gesture. “It was a superb gesture by M.S. Dhoni and a matter of great pride for the nation that he received it in the army uniform. It was a mark of respect for the army and I got goose pimples when I saw him receive it. I am proud of him,” he said.

No one can deny that the former captain expressed his obvious love for the country by wearing the army uniform. “He had been given the post of Lieutenant Colonel earlier and he chose to wear his uniform for the occasion because he took this matter of national pride very seriously and respectfully,” says Ayaz Memon, sports writer, journalist, columnist, author and lawyer. 

Attire is a language in itself, and choosing the right attire for an important occasion goes a long way in making a statement. “The relevance of the attire undoubtedly speaks about M.S. Dhoni’s pride for his country. His wearing the military uniform to receive the Padma Bhushan speaks about his dauntless attitude, zeal and unadulterated patriotism. I feel so proud of him. It is a matter of great pride to be an Indian,” says Anuradha Ramam, fashion designer.

Designer Reynu Taandon felt that uniforms speak volumes. “Every attire carries a cultural and social meaning. Looking the part makes a good first impression, for example, you cannot wear a lehenga and go for a formal meeting but you can definitely wear a shirt with pants or a formal skirt. Dressing in proper attire shows how serious you are about making an impression and playing your part. Very few people get to carry the pride of wearing the uniform, especially while receiving an honour like Padma Bhushan. There is no one in this country more deserving than the legend (Dhoni) to receive the award in the Indian Army uniform. Just like the uniform, M.S. Dhoni is a symbol of our nation’s pride,” she says.

Inputs from Angela Paljor