The News Minute| July 15, 2014| 6.15 pm ISTAt 98, Justice VR Krishna Iyer has not lost his touch. Following #VeshtiGate (link to story), we thought it would be a good idea to ask Justice Iyer what he thinks about the controversy.Just like Madras High Court Justice D Hariparanthaman who was denied entry to the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Club for wearing a dhoti, former Supreme court judge, Justice V R Krishna Iyer was turned back by Gymkhana club in Chennai in the 1980s.But Justice Iyer got back to us with more than just a quote. The veteran jurist says it is time we got rid of our colonial hangover. Here is his complete reply.I have no doubt that we have to change and be dhoti proud.Gandhi is still not acceptable as an Indian. He is an unhappy half-naked fakir. Accept him as an Indian. Wear what he wore as Indian. Meet his majesty or the Viceroy in Indian apparel. Then alone you are worthy of Bharat. We are still sartorially bizarre.India was a colonial country for a long time and her mentality has been conditioned by the culture of the Themes. The Ganga having been polluted so much than the purity of its waters has been polluted so much that it has ceased to be holy and is at home in the British waters of the Themes. Regrettably our culture has suffered a similar alien syndrome that foreign costume makes us comfortable while Indian apparel makes us feel backward. That is why cricket an alien game attracts us more than the national games of India. Now that we have become free a swaraj costume rather than a colonial wear of pants makes us homely. Unfortunately our heart like our dress is not still native. The saree that our mother wears is not intimately our own a gown or blouse of a woman. Privacy is a matter of habit. We have not yet begun to weave or wear our own clothes but are in love with the white man’s dres. Poor Gandhi never won India with his Khadi. The tri-colour is not yet a favourite in India except on ceremonial patriotic days. This must change. Untill the 365 days of the year becomes Indian the dhoti you like to wear will be a stranger on our body. It is this disease which made the Cricket Club shamefully to ask a judge not to enter with dhoti.V.R. KRISHNA IYER