Baba Ramdev is definitely on a mission. What mission exactly, you ask? Well, in my honest opinion, it seems like he’s on a mission to get to Mars before anyone else. Though, for now, he still just seems to be in the tech phase, at this rate, I’m sure it won’t take him long to take on interplanetary travels. I mean, look at his trajectory. Two days ago, Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali launched SIM cards teamed up with BSNL. And last night, they announced their foray into the software world.
Patanjali’s spokesperson, SK Tijarawala tweeted the launch of a new messaging application called Kimbho.
In the tweet, Kimbho has been pitched as a direct challenge to popular messaging app WhatsApp:
अब भारत बोलेगा…!
पूज्य @yogrishiramdev @Ach_Balkrishna के मार्गदर्शन में उनके शिष्य नवदीक्षित साधुओं और राष्ट्रनिष्ठ विशेषज्ञों ने #स्वदेशी तकनीक से इजाद कर बनाया यह #KIMBHO एप#भारत #स्वाभिमान
Patanjali's new app to challenge WhatsApp @bst_official https://t.co/hxBCbwdrnV— Tijarawala SK (@tijarawala) May 30, 2018
And in case you were wondering what Kimbho means:
#किम्भो संस्कृत में हाल-चाल पूछने और खैर-खबर लेने के लिए आम संवाद में प्रयोग होता है जैसे हम बोलते हैं "किम्भो भैया" यानी..क्या हाल है भैया और क्या चल रहा है, क्या खबर है?
अब भारत बोलेगा..किम्भो
अब भारत पूछेगा ..किम्भो@narendramodi @yogrishiramdev @bst_official @Ach_Balkrishna https://t.co/6viDpigQHM— Tijarawala SK (@tijarawala) May 30, 2018
Kimbho is the OG “Waaasuppp?”. Friends of mine, consider this as your formal notification that we’ll be replacing all forms of “wassup” with “Kimbho“, effective immediately.
Kimbho and Baba Ramdev’s steady shift from the FMCG market to the tech industry has got Twitter nervously laughing. And of course, Twitter cracks the best jokes at times such as these.
1. Darshan karlo pehle.
Downloaded Baba Ramdev’s app. The only other idiot there was @pranavsapra . Here’s our Kimbho KeDarshan. pic.twitter.com/KyaSBDYtFF
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) May 31, 2018
2. Soon. Maybe next week.
I'm alive to witness the launch of new planet by Baba#Kimbho
— DG (@Dhirajgawande) May 30, 2018
3. Swipe left if kundli doesn’t match, swipe right for muh dikhai.
With #KIMBHO one thing is clear that Ramdev is in full mood to come up with Indian version of Tinder called #SAMBHOG
— Ritik (@_alreadytook) May 30, 2018
4. Very innovative indeed. I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life!
— Muzammil Usman (@vaguelymuzammil) May 30, 2018
5. Seriously?! Quickies!
https://twitter.com/amanjyot314/status/1001905411799236609
6. Move over North Korea.
https://twitter.com/JagratiShukla29/status/1002015969454182400
7. Everybody’s major concern right now.
I hope #KIMBHO will not ask me link my adhar card 🤔
— Bidita Bag 🇮🇳 (@biditabag) May 30, 2018
8. Genius!
This #Kimbho App will reduce the whatsapp forwards as all bakhts will move there. Thanks Pitanjali for this solid waste management scheme. 👍👏 😂
— نثار حسین نوریؔ (@NHNoori) May 30, 2018
9. Because, #Sanskar.
After launching sim cards, Baba Ramdev has launched a new messaging application called #KIMBHO, with this new app ur nudes are safer and sanskari..
— Tweetera🐦 (@DoctorrSays) May 30, 2018
In #KIMBHO app water drop emoji is replaced with Gau mutr.🙏
— Tweetera🐦 (@DoctorrSays) May 30, 2018
You can subscribe daily hot yoga vedio alerts at just Rs69.#KIMBHO
— Tweetera🐦 (@DoctorrSays) May 30, 2018
10. What a strategy!
https://twitter.com/aditya_mantry/status/1002062931327049728
Jokes apart, Kimbho has also been called out on a couple of issues. One being the usage of a Pakistani model’s image in their app page.
https://twitter.com/SirJadejaaaa/status/1001871027381485568
https://twitter.com/IronyOfIndia_/status/1001980799028224000
Another matter that has quite a few concerned is how secure the app might be.
This @KimbhoApp is a joke, next time before making press statements, hire competent developers… If it is not clear, for the moment don't install this app. #Kimbho #KimbhoApp pic.twitter.com/wLWzO6lhSR
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) May 30, 2018
Ok, I will stop here. The #Kimbho #android #app is a security disaster. I can access the messages of all the users…🤦♂️
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) May 30, 2018
If you plan to install #Kimbho pls delete my contact from your phone. With all this permission ramdev will be spying on ur phone pic.twitter.com/ABQGuybuQ7
— Riyaz Ahmed (@simpleriyaz) May 30, 2018
Something is not right @yogrishiramdev baba ji #Kimbho pic.twitter.com/Y2x983oCr3
— Ragini Vanshidhar (@Moodnawazian) May 31, 2018
Cambridge Analytica Yogi version?
As of now, the app has been taken down from the Play Store. Possibly due to a series of complaints from users about issues faced with verification. We’re yet to see when and how the app will make a comeback. Until then, might I suggest, you do Anulom-Vilom to keep calm?