Manufacturer in Pune district working overtime to meet Gandhi topi orders sparked by Hazare’s agitation.
Crisp Gandhi topis made by Bhagwan Topi Manufacturers in Manchar (about 55 km from the city) in the district, have travelled all the way to Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, where veteran Gandhian, Anna Hazare, is staging an indefinite fast.
These caps have unofficially become part of the dress code of millions of protesters across the country supporting Hazare’s crusade against corruption.
The two brothers, Balasaheb Bhagwan Bhute and Arun Bhagwan Bhute, who own the unit, told DNA that a local lawyer, Raju Bhende, recently bought 200 caps before he left for New Delhi to take part in the stir.
Apparently, Bhende wanted to distribute the caps among the protesters who gathered at Ramlila Maidan.
“Last Saturday, six people who got the caps from Bhende, called me up from Delhi, urging me to print ‘I am Anna Hazare’ on the caps that we are making,” recalled Arun. The phone number of the manufacturer is printed on the side of the caps.
Known as ‘Manchar topis’ the product of the unit is immensely popular among a section of the state politicians and the Mumbai dabbawalas for several years. Politicians of the state — including state Congress chief, Manikrao Thakre, and minister Chhagan Bhujbal — make it a point to buy caps from that firm.
The Bhute brothers admitted that sale of the caps has increased three-fold ever since Hazare started his stir. “During the monsoon, the demand for caps is not much. But this monsoon we are selling about 2,000 caps every day. Traders from all parts of the state are placing demands for caps. We are getting orders from different traders from the state,” he said.
However, despite the demand, the Bhute brothers have not increased the cost of the caps, which is priced at Rs25 a piece.
According to the Bhute brothers, generally the caps are sold in bulk during marriage and festival seasons and just before the assembly session starts.
“But our 50 workers are busy this monsoon due to demand in the caps following Anna’s agitation. They are working overtime to meet the demands,” said Arun.
The specialty of Manchar topi, explained the Bhute brothers, lies in its crispness.
“Our topis are crisp and fit so well that even if one wears it and drives a two-wheeler at high speed, the topi would remain on the rider’s head,” Arun said.
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