Mussoorie: Boat-shaped, black in colour, and adorned with a distinctive chequered strip of four colours and an embossed Brahma Kamal, the state flower of Uttarakhand that blooms in the mountains.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi waved to the crowds during the Republic Day parade at Delhi’s Rajpath on 26 January, the ‘Uttarakhandi cap’ he wore struck an emotional chord with the people of the poll-bound state.
The sight had a ripple effect almost 300 kilometres away in Mussoorie, where Sameer Shukla, the artist behind the cap’s design, was inundated with calls and queries about it.
Since then, Shukla said, the cap has been ordered by both the Congress and the BJP.
Their stock of 10,000 caps, made over the last three years, is sold out, with the maximum sales happening after the PM wore the cap, Shukla told ThePrint at his museum in Mussoorie, ‘Soham Himalayan Art and Heritage Centre’, which showcases traditional art forms of the region. The PM’s decision to wear this particular cap seems to have given it an edge over the other variations available.
“In 2017, on the Uttarakhand Day (9 November), I had publicly announced the idea that we should make an Uttarakhandi cap which reflects all the regions of the state and is acceptable to all,” he said. “On the cap are four coloured stripes which represent earth, sky, life and nature. It shows the way they are all connected.”
He also mentioned another distinct feature of the cap: “We have incorporated Brahma Kamal, the state flower, which is offered to Lord Shiva in Kedarnath as it is considered the most auspicious.”
Shukla said he wanted to promote the traditional art form of stitching, and at the same time motivate the younger generation to take up traditional craft. “The tailors are from the villages. We have engaged them to empower them,” he said.
“This is something that is very true about PM Modi — whether one likes or dislikes him. Whatever he wears becomes a trend. And I think if people feel pride in wearing an Uttarakhandi cap because the PM wore it, that’s a very good thing,” he said.
Also Read: ‘Nyay’ in Uttarakhand: Congress manifesto pledges cash transfers for unemployed youth, 4 lakh jobs
How the cap reached PM Modi
Asked how the cap caught the prime minister’s eye, Shukla said he received a request a few days before Republic Day that Modi was interested in wearing it.
A hoarding on Dehradun-Mussoorie road shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi wearing the cap | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint
“They asked me to send some samples in different colours and sizes. A designated person came to my centre and we gave the cap to them. As far as how the cap caught PM Modi’s attention, I don’t have a definitive answer but I always used to post my work on his Twitter, MyGov and other platforms,” he added.
According to Shukla, the late Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, who was from the state, was the first to give recognition to the cap and had even sent him a letter of appreciation for designing and promoting it. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who also traces his roots to the state, has also sported it.
The Congress and the BJP, the two leading parties in the state, acknowledge the cap’s significance. While the Congress said they had been showcasing the cap since much before the PM wore it, the BJP said the R-Day outing provided a definite boost to the headgear’s sales.
Sales increase ahead of polls
Shukla said he is in the process of getting his cap trademarked. Ahead of the 14 February assembly elections in the state, everyone wants to be associated with the ‘Uttarakhandi cap’, he added.
“This has become a way of showcasing yourself as an Uttarakhandi. So, members of political parties are sporting it during their campaigns, while filing nominations and even press conferences. The only point on which they differ is the colour of the caps. All major political parties are placing requests,” added Shukla, but did not disclose specifics about orders placed by political parties.
Rajiv Meharshi, Uttarakhand Congress’ media in-charge, told ThePrint that the cap has long been a symbol of cultural and traditional heritage for the people of the state.
“People of Uttarakhand had been using it for years and we had formally showcased it in our electoral functions much before the PM used it on Republic Day. It will not be an exaggeration if we said he copied our showcasing of the much talked about cap,” he said, adding that while their party unit members wear and buy the topis, it was not because of the PM.
Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson Ravinder Jugran claimed people from outside the state are wearing the cap too. “Hundred per cent there has been an increase in the demand since PM Modi wore the cap. Pagadi and topi are markers of respect across India. The fact that PM Modi wore it shows how much respect he has for Uttarakhand,” he said.
State Soldier Welfare Minister and Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi had even tweeted about the cap on Republic Day.
आदरणीय @narendramodi जी द्वारा आज धारण की गई पहाड़ी टोपी हमारी मसूरी के समीर जी द्वारा तैयार की गई है। लोकल कारीगरों के लिए समीर जी द्वारा किये जा रहे प्रयास सराहनीय हैं।
आज मोदी जी ने यह संदेश दिया कि उनके लिए #VocalForLocal एक नारा मात्र नहीं है बल्कि उनका संकल्प है। pic.twitter.com/t5WxdNS0XR
— Ganesh Joshi (@ganeshjoshibjp) January 26, 2022
Shukla said even shops are sending requests to buy the caps. “Our orders have definitely doubled. But it all happened so soon that we are not in a position to produce so many and meet the demand,” he added, saying they are now trying to create more stocks to keep up with the demand.
‘Cap is the identity of Uttarakhand’
Local residents of Uttarakhand who spoke to ThePrint believe this will encourage more people to wear the cap in the state.
“This is about respect and honour that he has bestowed on us. This is a special cap and he wore it. People are quite enthusiastic about it, and have started wearing these caps more,” said Mussoorie resident Pushp Deep Sharma.
Added Dehradun-based Rajni Sharma: “That cap is the identity of Uttarakhand. But the fact that he wore a particular cap made people curious about it. Many are searching and trying to find out about it. He wore it on the Republic Day, which is a special day, so it is a matter of pride for Uttarakhand.”
According to Ramesh Shahi, a college student from Mussoorie, many people mistakenly refer to the ‘Uttarakhand topi’ as ‘Himachali topi’. “The fact that the PM wore this particular cap which has particular elements from Uttarakhand will make people, especially the youth, identify with it. This gives an identity to the state and even outside the state people will be able to recognise the cap,” he added.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also Read: BJP Uttarakhand list out — Khanduri’s daughter among 10 MLAs dropped, singer Jubin’s dad in race