He could have well bought a pink underwear and donated it for the Pink Chaddi campaign by Delhi girl Nisha Susan to protest the militant ways of the Sri Ram Sene.
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| u00a0The letter written by Bharat |
He could have well bought a pink underwear and donated it for the Pink Chaddi campaign by Delhi girl Nisha Susan to protest the militant ways of the Sri Ram Sene.
But a Mumbai-based man, who identified himself only as Bharat, took great pains to dye his briefs from white to pink. What's more, he even left a handwritten note berating Sri Ram Sene chief, Pramod Muthalik.
"Bharat's contribution struck a chord with us because it made us feel that our symbolic gesture was being embraced not only by women, but also by men," said Mumbai marketing manager for the campaign, Ashwini Shetty-Pradhan.
Ashwini, a resident of Powai, says she's already received over 100 chaddis in Mumbai against the moral policing of the Sri Ram Sene, but regrets not meeting Bharat. He could not be traced either because he just donated the chaddi and left. "I had asked all donors to leave their packets with the watchman. I wish I had met this one contributor (Bharat) because not only did he take the pains to dye his chaddis pink, but also wrote a passionate note criticising the Sri Ram Sene for their goondagiri."
In his letter, the contributor who identified himself only as Bharat, wrote, "On this Valentine's Day, choose for once to fill your heart with love and not hatred."
The letter further stated that the Sri Ram Sena should consider rechristening themselves as the Kichak-Sena after the character in the Mahabharata. Kichak was the brother of Sudeshna, queen of King Virata of Matsya who was slain by Bhima.
Though scattered across all states, the response to the unique Pink Chaddi campaign has been overwhelming.
"A garment manufacturer in Maharashtra has promised us a thousand chaddis, a school has promised us another 100 briefs and people of all ages have been calling us to congratulate our movement. At the moment, we have got well over a thousand chaddis and expect many more to come in today," said Susan.
The Delhi girl has the support of people like Ashwini who volunteered for the campaign despite criticism from friends and colleagues.
"Thankfully, my family has stood by me and shown tremendous support," said Ashwini.
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MILITANT WAYS
ON January 24, a 40-member gang belonging to the Sri Ram Sene attacked a pub in Mangalore and molested, chased, and beat up some 40 young girls. The organisation defended itself saying, "They were protecting Indian culture."
SUSPECTED Sri Ram Sene activists reportedly attacked the Kerala CPM MLA's daughter and her friend in a bus on February 6.u00a0 They kidnapped the girl because she was talking to a Muslim boy.
SRI Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik has warned couples planning to celebrate Valentine's Day in Karnataka, that they would be married off with all rituals or else forced to tie a rakhi. |
