It was khadi, the humble homespun cloth, that Mahatma Gandhi used to instill self reliance in his country. And now, the Khadi Board has found perhaps the ideal icon to represent the brand—Hanan. From selling fish to taking tuitions and essaying minor roles in films, this 20-year-old college student has done it all to stay afloat.
Hanan was the showstopper at the Khadi fashion show held as part of the board's annual Onam-Bakrid sales that began at Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Through a crowd of models in colourful khadi silk sarees, Hanan emerged like an angel in a resplendent off-white khadi saree and indigo blue blouse with golden coral designs and borders.
However, Khadi Board vice chairperson Shobhana George clarified that there were no plans to use Hanan in a sustained role as khadi's brand ambassador. “We called her to be the showstopper at the fashion show. We have not thought about a brand ambassador role for her at the moment,” said Shobhana. “But by showcasing Hanan at this show, we are trying to propagate the values of self reliance among the youth,” she said.
Hanan was given pride of place at the inaugural of the Onam-Bakrid expo. She was seated in the front row, along with Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, industries minister A.C. Moideen and Shobhana George.
During the chief minister's speech, Hanan was seen asking Shobhana George to give her the programme notice. After thinking for a while, she scribbled something on it. Later, when the chief minister was about to present her a miniature glass-enclosed 'charkha,' she asked him permission to recite a poem that she had just penned. She recited a two-line poem, a mini haiku of sorts which sounded like a thanksgiving of sorts to the lord who had suddenly showered a magical light on her.