MUMBAI : An overwhelming show of public support buoyed the dabbawallas of Mumbai as they struck work for the first time in their 120-year history to join the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare . Few of their 2 lakh clients complained about having to make alternate arrangements , although the effect of the shutdown was minimised owing to the Navroz holiday ."Leave aside complaining , several customers even joined our rally at Azad Maidan on Friday morning .
As the dabbawalla contingent entered the vast ground , we were surrounded by groups of people . Our members , all from the Warkari community sang bhajans and kirtans for over two hours . Hundreds of onlookers joined the chorus ," said Anand Talekar , secretary of the Nutan Tiffinbox Suppliers Association . "People sympathise with the fight against corruption and understand the reason we have stepped in to agitate for the first time in 120 years ." "We do take a week off in April when we return to our hometown in Khed for the annual village festival . But we have never called a bandh before ," said Shivaji Sawant , general secretary . "Each of us believes Anna is fighting not for himself but the nation , indeed for humanity ."
Several Mumbaikars shared those sentiments . At Express Towers , Nariman Point , which is an unloading point for the dabbawallas , office-goers chose to turn lunch hour into party time . "Our colleagues who order tiffin chose to eat out as a team today ," said Yogita Sharma of Enam Holdings .
In neighbouring JBF Industries , the elderly Arvind P Thakkar stood in firm solidarity with the cause . "My two sons and I all use the services of the dabbawallas but each of us willingly carried food along with us today in order to do our bit towards the task of nationbuilding ," he said . "My wife had to finish cooking to an earlier deadline but she did not complain either ."
Management guru Dr Pawan Kumar Agrawal , who has a doctorate on the Mumbai dabbawallas , is earnest about this historic strike . "I would not use the term strike , it is simply a shutdown motivated by national interest ," he says . "We were overwhelmed by calls of support not only from Team Anna but also our customers . None of them objected to the closure , in fact , some even used the occasion to join the fast for a proper Jan Lokpal Bill."