The spectacle of PM Narendra Modi waving a "gamcha" to the crowd of joyful supporters, many of whom joyfully responded by swinging their own "gamchas," summed up the NDA's victorious atmosphere at the swearing-in event in Patna following its resounding election victory.
The modest "gamcha," a practical accessory in daily life, particularly for the working class, had its turn in the spotlight thanks to Modi.
He frequently wore it during his campaign, and on November 14, when he gave his victory speech following the NDA's stunning victory of 202 seats in the 243 member assembly, he waved it to ecstatic BJP supporters at the party's headquarters.
Many would be happy that the gamcha is now a part of the state's unique identity and mainstream Bihari fashion culture. According to Pearl Academy professor Parag Goswami, Modi is aware of the semiotics of culture and fashion and has used the gamcha to appeal to the rural and working class identities.
It is a terrific identification identifier as a political prop, and Modi tells the people in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh that he shares their cultural codes and symbols, he said.
He pointed out that Modi frequently made connections with people in a similar way, whether it was by donning the Assamese gamosa or vesti and angavastram, all of which are tied to TN. In the process of creating a populist identity, these levels of meaning are useful.
