NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which has been contemplating a change of style, is coming closer to taking a decision on adopting a more contemporary look that will click with modern society.The ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party might do away with khaki and introduce trousers in its new uniforms, which are likely to be introduced this year, to project itself as a cultural organisation and not the “disciplined, policing” cadre that it is often perceived to be, senior officials of the sangh told ET.Three new colours are in consideration for the uniforms - slate grey, Raymond blue and walnut brown. The sangh has already roped in manufacturers in Bhilwara, the textile city in Rajasthan that exports synthetic fabric, to stitch 5 lakh trousers once a decision is taken at a top-level RSS meeting in March.The changes are being driven internally. A group of swayamsevaks that specialises in fashion design has been asked to suggest the best fabric, design and colour of the ghanavesh (uniforms)."Three to four trials have been conducted of the sample trousers. We want a modern outlook in uniforms that is also comfortable for exercises. The consensus till now is not to have khaki," said a senior functionary of the sangh.Khaki has been a colour associated with the RSS uniform from the time it was founded in 1925. The uniform is prescribed for special functions and is not compulsory for the shakhas, a programme of physical exercises held for an hour every day at various localities across the country."There is a possibility that the uniforms will be changed. The decision will be taken in March and if the change happens, the new uniforms will be in place by next Vijayadashami or the summer training camps," RSS Prachar Pramukh Manmohan Vaidya told ET.He added that in the past two years, the emphasis on the aayu-anusar shakhas (age-specific morning sessions) in the sangh has been increasing. "We have different shakhas for students, young professionals and people above 40. The nature of physical activities is different in each of them, hence they are allowed to wear clothes that they are comfortable in. The ghanavesh (uniform) is worn by the swayamsevaks only three or four times a year - mostly during Vijayadashami or route marches."The change in colour and design of the uniforms is also symbolic of the sangh adopting a contemporary, non-military look. ET understands that all senior officials, including Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat, are in favour of the change.This is not the first modification in the outfit of the RSS. The sangh’s dress-code till the start of World War II in 1939 was the all-khaki uniform, designed by KB Hedgewar, the first Sarsanghachalak.In 1940, white shirts replaced the khaki shirts after the British government banned the RSS ghanavesh because the shirts and shorts were of the same colour.Around the time of the 1975-77, the RSS dropped its military-style long boots for black shoes and in 2010, leather belts were replaced with canvas ones.Over the years, the material of the uniforms and the tailoring have changed. Senior pracharaks fondly remember Vinod Rekhare, who till the ripe age of 93, stitched the RSS uniforms in the Hindu Mahasabha office in New Delhi, charging Rs 20 apiece."Rekhare-ji used to live with his family in the bhawan. He was a committed swayamsevak and perhaps the last generation of his family in tailoring," said Rajiv Tuli, Delhi State Parachar Pramukh. Tuli added that initially, swayamsevaks used to get their shorts stitched by Rekhare.After 1990, all the starchy raw cotton cloth, and later terry-cotton, was supplied by textile mills in Surat to the RSS Vastu Bandar in New Delhi, from where members still buy cloth and get their shorts stitched from four popular tailors in the capital. From here, the material for shorts is despatched to shakhas in north India, he said.About 1,200 top RSS officials are expected to attend the Pratinidhi Sabha from March 11 to 13 at Nagaur in Rajasthan, where a decision on the uniforms is likely to be taken."There are also people who feel there is no need for a change in uniforms. If they are more in number, that decision might prevail," a senior pracharak said.There’s been a surge in membership of the RSS in the past three years, with an estimated over 1 lakh youth joining from places such as New Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru, leading to an increase in "software shakhas" and "IT milans."This, too, is an aspect that will have a bearing on the sangh’s decision to get new uniforms, said RSS functionaries.