Swadeshi Mela-Bagalgunte!!

 The concept of "Swadeshi" is Prevailing since 150 years.The idea of Swadeshi can also be contemplated as a guiding force for the Indian freedom struggle under the visionary of many able leaders of that period. The concept  was institunalized and given a concrete form by establishing Swadeshi Jagarana Manch. Other organisations like ABVP, BMS, BKS and more have also contributed Immensely to spread among the people about the need of swadeshi!

It has been decades after  Independence from British Colonialism but still there is a nuance that total economic freedom can only be achieved by adopting Swadeshi way of living. In order to wangle this into a lay man's inclination Swadeshi Jagaran Manch is organizing 'Swadeshi Mela' since many years.

As the name itself suggests the main motive of this Mela is to foster the importance of Indian Made goods and services.The Mela is carried out at different areas to instill the Idea of Swadeshi to the residents of that particular area.Swadeshi Mela is usually inaugurated by dignitaries who are prodigies  at their fields.This season's Mela was put up at Bagalgunte from 4th to 8th January 2023.Around 250 stalls efficiently sold their stuff and the sellers were highly satisfied while utilizing this opportunity as a carnival.The Mela witnessed a massive foot flow and the crowd was inclined with the projected estimation of weekday/weekend crowd by the planning authorities.Not only being a carnival but the Mela also offered a great scope for learning to the visitors.There were various cultural programs,interesting workshops,competitions,play zone for children and lot more.There was also a small exhibition of various equipments used for agriculture and other rural businesses.It was like a one stop stalls for every individual.There was also a lucky draw set up for women wearing sarees in order to stress upon Indian attire.The Mela has also  inspired many people to bother their brains in order to come up with new start up ideas and the ways of excecution.

Looking the Mela through subjective lens.I had many take homes from the whole Mela.I would State that this particular Mela also propogates the idea of Unity in Diversity.The commodities sold were like cheese and chalk so were the sellers.They had different cultural capitals,hailing from different places but none seemed outlandish.They showed striking marketing skills to sell their products and also managed to go out of their way and remarkably advertised each others products too.Through this I could see the underlying essence of solidarity.These observations add more significance to my hypothesis about unity in diversity and acts as an adduce.

Being a part of the organizing team,I had a boundless time socializing with the consumers as well as the sellers.I was impressed with some of the stupendous products by highly talented entreprenuers.

I also learnt Crisis management by addressing different issues.Last but not the least I got a window of opportunity to learn the mindsets and behaviour of the people coming over there hailing from different economic and social status.It was absolutely an honour to be a cause to endorse the notion of swadeshi in people.

Reference:

https://www.swadeshionline.in/page/about-us

Aapti Patwardhan