Bands of hope
Bhavesh Kumar has recently changed his email signature to, "Mera Bharat mahan nahi hain. Par yeh dosh mera hain". Inspired by former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi's conversation in the episode Kings Every Day, this Patna businessman was spurred into action. Watching Aamir Khan take the oath to not sell his vote in the following episode was further inspiration.
"I feel that the message that he gave out through the oath is strong and impactful”, says the 27-year-old. “But people typically tend to forget as the days pass by. But if we all wear a similar band, it will remind us of the oath when we cast our vote."
Kumar asked us from where he could buy the tricolour bands, so he could give them along with the products he sold online. When he found out that all it needed was three pieces of coloured thread, something that is easily available, here is what he did next with a little help from his mother.
I got orange, white and green wool from the local market
With some 'expert' help from my mom, I rolled it into three balls
I put them in a cardboard box and then cut all three threads together in 50-cm long segments and tied knots at both ends. About 200 pieces were made in this way
I wrote a message about the importance of taking this oath and printed it on a card
I packed this card and five tricolour bands in a re-sealable plastic bag. I have decided to send this card and this band along with every order I receive until the elections end
Here I am wearing one such tricoloured band on my hand