Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay seems to have ditched the tradition of the usual white towels from his office as pictures posted on the official handle of the Chief Minister’s Office show him without the traditional towel.
The development comes after climate activist Licypriya Kangujam appealed to the newly sworn-in Prime Minister to end the long-standing “towel culture” on VIP chairs in government offices.
The appeal of a social media user may have brought about a quiet but noticeable change and has now caught attention.
Just a day after Kangujam urged Vijay to abandon the practice, photos released from a formal meeting on Friday showed the Prime Minister sitting on a chair without the usual white towel.
On May 14, during a review meeting of the Ministry of Industries, Investment Promotion and Trade held at the Secretariat, photos shared by the Chief Minister’s Office showed Vijay sitting on a chair covered with the usual white towel.
But in photos released on Friday of Vijay’s meeting with Mallika Srinivasan, president and managing director of TAFE, and vice-president Dr Lakshmi Venu, the towel was noticeably absent from the Prime Minister’s chair.
The quiet change has now drawn attention online, with many social media users calling it a symbolic break from the long-standing VIP culture associated with Indian bureaucracy and politics.
Kangujam appeal to CM Vijay
In her post on X, Kangujam urged Vijay to set an example, arguing that the practice of placing white towels on chairs is widely followed not only by ministers and bureaucrats, but also by lower-level officials.
She appealed to the Tamil Nadu leader to initiate a symbolic change by doing away with the practice.
Neither Vijay nor the Tamil Nadu government have publicly responded to her post on X. However, photos released from recent official meetings indicated a clear change.
Read also | Vijay govt enhances maximum age limit for liquor sales to 21 years after closing 700 TASMAC stores
Social media notices that the white towel has been removed
Kangujam expressed his gratitude to Vijay and said that his actions prove that he listens to the voices of common people.
Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu’s chief minister on May 10, a week after his party, Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam, emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections. He formed the government with the support of Congress, IUML, CPI(M), CPI and VCK.
Read also | Tamil Nadu CM Vijay ordered closure of over 700 TASMAC government-run liquor shops near schools and bus stops.
What is the “white towel” culture?
Long before air conditioners and refrigerators became common, the white towel draped over the chairs of bureaucrats and government officials served many practical purposes, especially in the hot and humid climate of India during the colonial era.
The towel helped absorb sweat, protect upholstery from wear and stains, and could even be used to wipe the face and neck during long working hours.
What began as a matter of convenience and practicality gradually became entrenched as a symbol of hierarchy and VIP culture in government offices.
White has always been associated with cleanliness, discipline and formality. In government offices, these visual signs often convey authority and hierarchy even before the word is spoken.
