The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘Kanduva’ takes centre-stage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘Kanduva’ takes centre-stage

S. Harpal Singh

The ‘Kanduva’ is not only light and inexpensive but also gives an identity to the person sporting it

GOING TRADITIONAL: An initiate being welcomed into the party fold by TRS leaders by draping a kanduva.

ADILABAD: Among the host of minor aspects of Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party that are waiting to be revealed is the design of the ‘kanduva’ or the scarf. Because this piece of cloth is meant to provide an identity to the person from whose neck it hangs, the ‘new’ cadres perhaps exhibit it a bit more with eagerness.

Ordinarily, any such thing as a ‘kanduva’ promotes a sense of belonging among the members of a group or political party concerned. Given the frequent and multiple fence-crossing by politicians these days, it also serves to remove confusion in the minds of ordinary people with regard to the allegiance of a given leader on a given day.

Credit to Naidu

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu is credited with giving currency to the ‘Kanduva’ culture. Before he became the Chief Minister in 1996, his partymen used to wear yellow shirts in the manner of the red ones sported by Left party leaders and activists.

The culture of the ‘kanduva’ got stronger with the steady advent of new political outfits.

The TRS has adopted a pink scarf with the map of Telangana and the face of its founder K. Chandrashekhar Rao imprinted on it. Devender Goud’s Nava Telangana Praja Party has adopted blue with the map of Telangana.

Of late, Left party workers can be seen with red scarves hanging down their necks and activists of smaller parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party get to sport blue ‘kanduvas’ and those from regional entities like the MIM wear green scarves.

Though the Congress and BJP leaders sported tricoloured and saffron coloured shawls until recently, they now proudly sport the ‘kanduvas’ of the same colour and design.

G. Gaddenna, Congress MLA from Mudhole constituency in Adilabad district, always purchased a lorry load of scarves which he used for welcoming or felicitating important personalities who visited the temple town of Basar.

Being inexpensive and light in weight, the ‘kanduva’ has come to be of great appeal among workers of political parties.

It can be made for as less as Rs. 20 per piece and can be folded and carried in the pocket.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh