War, Peace, and Wardrobe: An Open Letter to Mr. Zelensky on Dress Codes

 Dear President Zelensky,

As an Indian, I deeply respect every individual’s right to live in peace and democracy. But today, I write to you not about war strategies or geopolitics, but about something far more serious (at least in the IT world) : Dress Codes.

We hear that you’ve been under fire for your attire during your recent visit to the Oval Office. Honestly, I’ve been watching you since the war began, and let’s just say, sir, you have a signature look. In fact, if I ever saw you in a suit, I’d probably assume either peace was miraculously achieved overnight or your stylist got hacked.

Now, let me tell you why I feel uniquely qualified to comment on this issue. As an Indian IT engineer, I belong to a community that has spent decades debating the necessity of dress codes in tech organizations. We’ve questioned everything from “Why do we even need a dress code?” to “Is wearing a necktie really a test of our coding abilities?” - especially in the Indian heat, where a tie feels less like a fashion statement and more like a noose.

You see, in our world, business formals were once mandatory, even if we never interacted with clients and spent 90% of our time talking to machines (which, by the way, have never complained about our fashion choices). But then, salvation arrived in the form of GPTW surveys - a magical tool that lets employees give feedback on workplace policies. Thanks to relentless feedback, some IT firms scrapped neckties altogether, while others abolished business formals entirely. We fought the good fight, and we won.

Now, you may wonder: Why is this Indian IT guy giving unsolicited fashion advice on a matter of global diplomacy? Simple: You need your own GPTW. Or better yet, let’s call it GPTD - Great Place To Diplomate.

Picture this: a global survey where countries vote on whether dress codes actually matter in diplomatic meetings. Should formal attire be mandatory? Does a leader’s outfit impact international negotiations? What if we classify meetings based on attire? Casual Fridays at the UN, anyone? The possibilities are endless.

Look, I get it, dress code debates pale in comparison to the existential crisis your country is facing. But as someone who has seen a small dress code rebellion shake up the mighty IT industry, I say: Why not challenge outdated diplomatic norms too?

Your attire tells a story of resilience, of war, of the struggles your nation faces daily. Just as our Indian leaders reflect cultural diversity through their clothing, whether it’s Manmohan Singh’s turban or Narendra Modi’s kurta, you, too, wear the reality of your country on your sleeve (literally).

So, if world politics is shifting, why not shift the way we think about diplomatic dress codes? Time for a GPTD survey. Let’s take this debate global!

Best Regards,
An Indian IT Engineer Who Won the Dress Code Battle (and Thinks You Can Too)