Since its inception in the 19th century, the Indian budget has undergone massive development and so has the style of the personalities who present it. Starting with the Scottish economist and politician, James Wilson, who presented India’s first budget in 1860 to the current finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman wearing typical Victorian attire, it has been quite a journey up the style quotient for the budget. . The change in style not only reflects the change of times but also traces India’s journey from British colonialism to becoming a sovereign country proud of its culture and origins.
Here, we take a look at some of the interesting style choices made by celebrities who have graced the Indian budget over the years:
James Wilson
Sporting a typical Victorian outfit, Wilson presented the budget by wearing a suit and a hat, with a fob chain attached to a watch in the pocket of his waistcoat.
RK Shanmukham Chetty
The first Union Budget of independent India was presented on 26 November 1947 by the then Finance Minister RK Shanmukham Chetty wearing a dark pinstripe suit with a white shirt and tie. Completing the look was Chetty’s side-parted hairstyle and round rimless spectacle.
Morarji Desai
In later years many finance ministers opted to present the budget wearing a suit, until Morarji Desai, who in 1968 not only presented the “People’s Budget”, but also dressed like a common man. The suit was replaced by Desai’s white Gandhi cap and a tight closed gala suit. He presented a total of 10 budgets – the most by any finance minister in India.
Indira Gandhi
India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was also the Finance Minister in the year 1970–71, presented the budget draped in a simple silk sari and a gray shawl.
Manmohan Singh
In 1991, Manmohan Singh presented what became one of the most important budgets in Indian democratic history. Budget opening doors for liberalization in the Indian market may have been complicated but Singh’s style certainly was not. He presented the budget wearing a beige bandhgala and turban with his signature glasses.
P Chidambaram
Away from suits, bandhgalas, former finance minister P Chidambaram always preferred to wear the traditional white veshti and white cotton shirt on important occasions. And this is what he wore while presenting his first budget in 1997. Chidambaram presented 8 more budgets, changing government policies and allocations, but what didn’t change was his signature white dress.
Arun Jaitley
If there was one finance minister who experimented with his attire while presenting the budget, it was Arun Jaitley. He presented the budget wearing kurta-pyjama, shirt-trouser but one thing remained constant throughout the year – his Nehru jacket.
Nirmala Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Parliament to present the Union Budget 2022 wearing a clay rusty Bomkai (Sambalpuri) sari with a deep maroon border.
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