Assamese Couple Asks For Old Clothes & Books As Wedding Gifts, Gives Out Saplings In Return

For a long time, we’ve observed the tradition of conducting large-scale weddings, only to wonder for the next few months where our money went and how to get rid of the mountain of gifts. But slowly and steadily, some couples are re-structuring these norms by holding eco-friendly weddings and requesting for stationery and books as gifts. And a couple from Assam has followed suit.

According to News 18, Bhupen Rabha and Babita Boro hosted their wedding reception at the No. 2 Kataligaon in Assam’s Baksa district. But strangely, the guests arrived with old clothes and books in their hands. Rabha, who works as an assistant English professor at a govt. college in Mushalpur, explained the situation saying,

“When we talk about marriage, it is usually about people, gifts and food. I thought of using this moment as an opportunity. Presuming that around 3,000 people from far and near would be attending my wedding, I put out a message in the invitation card. People can take back an example from our village, an awareness message I intended to spread.”

The message on the invitation card read ‘Service to Mankind’, wherein Rabha requested for things that he could later distribute to the needy. And apparently, the guests obliged.

In return, the guests received saplings of various local species of trees. Rabha told that this was possible with the help of the Baksa Forest Division,

“This was sponsored by the Assam’s forest department in order to spread the message of greener earth and the need for planting more trees. The local ranger of Batabari helped us immensely. Those who brought clothes and books got a sapling each.”

Sachin Das, the Batabari Range Officer of Baksa Forest Division told The Hindu that he saw the couple’s initiative as an opportunity to further the department’s social forestry campaign,

“I gave them 350 saplings of local species of trees, such as nageshwar (Indian rose chestnut), krishnachura (flame tree), and bokul (Spanish cherry).”

The couple has recorded the names of those guests who haven’t received a sapling, or have promised to bring old clothes later.

Rabha recognises the support that his wife, Babita and close friend, Sandis Laime have provided. While talking about the sapling-for-old clothes idea, Babita said that,

“Weddings mean gifting precious metals or cash or consumer durables. These things aren’t as priceless as investing in the society or the environment.”

Rabha, with the help of Laime, put up banners outside of his house and organised a cultural show for the wedding guests and distributed clothes to the cart pullers of the village. The rest of the clothes will be sent to those who are in need. In addition to that, the books that they’ve received, will be be stored in an open library for the villagers.

Given how we aren’t politicians or celebrities, the only way we can get a large group of people to listen to us is by getting married. And while doing so, it’s better to spend all your energy in educating them about how to make our world sustainable and sociable place, instead of splurging on DJ’s and exotic food items. Follow this Assamese couple’s example and go green!