Dabbawallas will not deliver today

Will break with 120-yr-old tradition to join Anna Hazare

Anna Hazare is on his pathbreaking fast. And today, you might be too.

The Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association, simply called dabbawallas will be on strike today in support of social activist Anna Hazare.

The 5,000-strong dabbawalla force will not pick up dabbas today and instead, at 11 am, march from Churchgate to Azad Maidan in a rally which is a show of strength for Anna Hazare.

The no show will be the first ever for these uniquely identifiable men, in their Anna (Gandhi topis) and white attire in its 120-year history.

Says Kiran Govind Gavande, secretary, Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association, "We have broken from a more than 100-year-old tradition, and, so it gives you some indication how important this cause is for us.

We have 5,000 members; we have not forced any of the members to join our strike today.
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It's a voluntary decision on the part of the workers. We thought that people as far away as the US and Japan are uniting with Anna, so why not we, here in India do so?"

According to Gavande, the dabbawallas have a two-lakh customer base, "and we have informed whoever we could about not being able to pick up dabbas on Friday.
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Forgive us, we told them and our customers were very supportive. Go on with Anna, was the common sentiment, we are with you, they told us."

"In fact," says president of the Tiffin Box Suppliers Association, Sopan Mare,

"We are hoping that our customers get information about the strike through the media like television channels.

This is a key moment in our nation's history. Anna is doing something good for the poor and those who do not have a voice. That is why we want to be part of it."

Piyush Bhatia from India Against Corruption (IAC) Mumbai, says, "Every voice is important in this struggle.

Yet, dabbawallas will make a statement by joining this support movement as they enjoy a very high reputation amongst people of Mumbai. They are also one of the spinal columns of this city."

Highlights
Dabbawallas break 120-year-old tradition to support Anna today.
No dabbas would be picked up today.
Want to be part of key moment in Indian history.
Dabbawallas part of Mumbai's fabric, have attended the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, participated in the Mumbai marathon, have had numerous documentaries made on them by foreign filmmakers and even rated by top business magazines like the Forbes. They continue to be a source of interest and marvel by the West because of their punctuality and efficiency.


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