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Walk into any government office in India, towels are a common sight on the chairs of bureaucrats. A ubiquitous symbol of power. Such is the importance of the towel that a few years ago in Uttar Pradesh, lawmakers filed complaints, aggrieved at not being offered chairs draped in white towels during visits to government offices, while pointing out that officers were "sitting on tall, betowelled chairs." The matter was serious enough that the state's parliamentary affairs department had to issue a formal directive to officials, reminding them of the existing hierarchy. The government ordered that MPs, MLAs and MLCs be given towel-adorned chairs "of the same height and decor" at meetings across the state. In the Uttar Pradesh secretariat in Lucknow, around 1,000 towels are changed twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays😀

‘Gamocha’—a timeless symbol of Assamese heritage—is offered during Bihu as a mark of respect to elders and affection to the younger ones. This year, I had the honour of sharing Bihuwan with nearly one million people in Assam and beyond—a heartfelt gesture of love and tradition, and a step to ensure our weavers receive a decent remuneration for their craft. Would you like to receive a Gamocha this Bihu—from the people of Assam? Let me know, and I’ll be happy to send one your way