Rishikul ground is once again buzzing with indigenous brands of India, showcasing their products at Swadeshi Mela which has started on Wednesday.
The week- long mela would feature cultural evenings, fashion show of Khadi wear, theatre shows and discourses by the eminent people and the artists.
Inaugurating the mela, the state cabinet minister Madan Kaushik said that through such melas, Swadeshi brands of remote areas come within the reach of a common man. The fair is being organised by Swadeshi Jagran Manch in conjunction with Divine International Organisation.
Presiding over the function, Acharya Bal Krishna of Patanjali Yog Peeth stressed on Swadeshi being linked to the collective life of the nation.
“This is because the multinational companies not just take the profit back to their countries, giving thus a blow to our economy but also help corruption to thrive thanks to the idea they dig into the collective mind of India being a market to be exploited.
They have no emotional bonding with the country, the people and the culture as they are engrossed in profiteering. By contrast, the brands like Patanjali consider India as family.”
In his inaugural speech, Madan Kaushik said, “Swadeshi brands like Patanjali have become a start-up thing in the mornings of millions of Indians.
The schemes like Start- up India, Skill India envisaged by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also meant to encourage such indigenous initiatives.”
The founder of Divya Prem Sewa Mission Ashish Gautam emphasised on not just Swadeshi branding of business but on the need of having Swadeshi governance through ‘Swadesh Raja’.
Citing examples from the history of Chanakya gifting the people with Chandragupta, he said that the head of the country must be steeped in the ethos of India. He also said Raja Ram and Lord Krishna embody the concept of an ideal king according to the spiritual/humanitarian ethos of the country.
Sandeep Goyal of Swadeshi Jagran Manch dwelt on the journey of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch since its inception.
He also spoke of the negative impact left by the formation on World Trade Organisation on the Swadeshi brands, resulting in the presence of over 7000 multi-national companies in India at present.
The speakers sounded concerned over the cottage industries becoming extinct. Muskan Namkeen, Maharaja Achar, Pahadi Utpad, Rajasthani Achar , Pahadi Zakhiya and Patanjali are some of the few brands selling their products at the fair.