Climate activist Licypriya Kangujam on Thursday urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to end the long-standing “towel culture” associated with VIP chairs in government offices and within a day, the symbolic change appeared to have quietly taken effect. Without any formal announcement or public statement, Vijay was seen using a chair without the customary white towel during official meetings on Friday.
In a post on X, Kangujam had appealed to Vijay to set an example by discontinuing the practice of draping white towels over official chairs, a tradition commonly followed not just by ministers and senior bureaucrats, but also by lower-level government officials across India. She described the move as a small but meaningful step toward dismantling visible symbols of hierarchy in public offices.
Neither Vijay nor the Tamil Nadu government responded publicly to the appeal. However, photographs released by the Chief Minister’s Office hinted at a visible shift.
Images from a May 14 review meeting of the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department showed Vijay seated on the conventional towel-covered chair at the Secretariat. But photographs released a day later from his meeting with TAFE Chairperson and Managing Director Mallika Srinivasan and Vice-Chairperson Dr Lakshmi Venu showed the towel missing from the Chief Minister’s chair.
The change quickly gained traction online, with several users calling it a symbolic break from a colonial-era bureaucratic tradition long associated with power and privilege.
Reacting to the development, Kangujam thanked Vijay and said the move reflected a leadership style willing to listen to ordinary citizens.
Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on May 10 after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections. He formed the government with support from Congress, IUML, CPI(M), CPI and VCK.
The practice dates back to the British colonial era and originally had little to do with status. During the late 19th century, British officials commonly used Macassar oil in their hair, which often stained expensive leather and wooden furniture. To protect the upholstery, cloth covers known as “anti-macassars” were placed on chairs.
In India’s hot and humid climate, the cloth later evolved into larger white towels that absorbed sweat and prevented discomfort during long hours of sitting, especially before air conditioning became common.
Over time, however, the towel became more than a practical accessory. It gradually transformed into a visual symbol of authority and bureaucratic hierarchy, particularly in government offices, where towel-covered chairs became closely associated with power, seniority and VIP culture.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
