The historical city of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh has been following the ideas of Gandhiji as well as the tradition of wearing 'Gandhi cap'. 'Gandhi cap' is the crown on the heads of crores of Indians. The velvety feel of this cap makes us understand the importance of real freedom. This cap is the heritage of India. A legacy that tells us that no matter how difficult the path may be, one should not taste success by following the path of evil. This cap teaches us to make sacrifices on the path of truth. Today once again the discussion regarding Gandhi cap is in full swing. People of Rampur following their old tradition wore the famous 'Gandhi Topi' to honor Gandhiji on his 155th birth anniversary. Historians say that it was Rampur who gifted this special cap to Bapu, which later became a powerful symbol of India's freedom movement and became famous across the world as 'Gandhi Cap'.
The story of the hat is interesting
Rampur's well-known historian Kashif Khan told in an interview to a channel that this story is from 1919 when Mahatma Gandhi was running a vigorous campaign for Swaraj. Khan further said, 'When Gandhi was traveling extensively to unite different classes and religious communities, especially Hindus and Muslims, he went to Kothi Khas Bagh to meet the Nawab of the princely state of Rampur, Syed Hamid Ali Khan Bahadur Were.' The tenure of the Nawab lasted from 1889 to 1930.
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Kothi Khas Bagh was decorated like a bride
Kashif explains that Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Rampur was celebrated as a grand festival. The Nawab had made special arrangements to welcome him, the streets and entrances of the city were illuminated. Kothi Khas Bagh was beautifully decorated on this occasion.
No cap fits on Gandhiji's head
Khan said, 'During his visit, Gandhiji was told about a tradition in the Nawab's court in which guests had to cover their heads when meeting him. However this put Bapu in a dilemma as he had nothing to cover his head at that time. People from the Nawab's court started searching the markets of Rampur to find a suitable cap for Mahatma Gandhi. However, the men assigned to the mission faced difficulties because none of the hats they brought fit them properly.'
Who made Gandhiji's special cap?
Khan said that Bapu's dilemma soon reached the ears of Abadi Begum, the mother of the Ali brothers (Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali). She went ahead to help Mahatma Gandhi and knitted a special cap for him, which later came to be known as 'Gandhi cap'. Abadi Begum later led the Khilafat movement.
Powerful symbol of freedom movement
He said the Gandhi cap also emerged as a powerful symbol of the independence movement, leading the British government to attempt to ban it to curb its growing popularity. Despite these efforts, the appeal of the 'Gandhi cap' could not be suppressed and it remains a fashionable choice among politicians even today.
'Gandhi cap is not just a cap…'
The white Gandhi cap, made of khadi and pointed at both ends, became an enduring symbol in the political culture of India. Senior Congress leader Dwijendra Ram Tripathi said, 'This distinctive cap of Gandhiji became popular during the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922) when it became a standard part of the Indian National Congress attire.' Tripathi believes that 'Gandhi cap is not just a cap, it is Gandhian ideology which is a symbol of self-reliance, Swadeshi, cultural pride and solidarity and non-violence.' The popularity of the Gandhi cap continued even after India gained independence as Gandhi's followers and members of the Indian National Congress continued to adopt it, indicating a connection to the freedom struggle.
The color may have changed but the design is the same
He further said, 'Be it politicians or freedom fighters, everyone adopted the Gandhi cap, which was a part of the freedom struggle. India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru regularly wore a cap, a tradition continued by Lal Bahadur Shastri and Morarji Desai. The cap became widely recognised, with large numbers of people wearing it during celebrations of India's Independence Day on 15 August and Republic Day on 26 January.' He said that Gandhi's special cap has undergone many changes over the years. Its color may have changed, but its design remains the same, maintaining the symbolic importance of the cap and its deep connection with India's freedom movement.
