Bhupen Rabha and Bobeeta Boro turned their marriage and wedding reception to an occasion of social service and conservation of environment. The couple demanded the guests to give them old clothes on the occasion instead of valuable gifts and gifted them back with tree saplings. The couple belongs to Assam. They tied the knot on January 30, 2019 and converted the wedding reception on February 1 to convey the message of social commitment.

Bhupen Rabha is a native of 2 Kataligaon (Rabhasupa) village in the Baksa district of Assam and is officially the cleanest village in the district and is well known for community services. The village is around 90 kilometers west of Guwahati. Rabha who is also a part time actor in regional films, teaches English in a college. Bobeeta Boro is also a teacher in a private school. The couple before marriage met the village elders and executed the idea with their blessings. Mr. Rabha had gifted new blankets to a dozen homeless people in his village on the wedding day. He had earlier researched in witch hunting and witchcraft which often leads to violence in Assam. The research was carried out in Latvia and his research mate Sandis Laime also attended the marriage for whom it turned out a special occasion. 

Of the 6000 guests attended the reception at Rabha's residence on February 1, 350 brought bundles of old clothes. The newlyweds expressed their gratitude by presenting back a sapling each. The saplings were of local species of trees. They included nageshwar (Indian rose chestnut), krishnachura (flame tree), and bokul (Spanish cherry). The couple could not present saplings to all those brought old clothes. They are maintaining a register and will be handing over the saplings in the coming days. The couple elicited promises from more persons to present more clothes. 

The couple expects the idea of saplings for old clothes will catch on with more people and that weddings in future will turn out to occasions for investing in society or the environment instead of presenting cash, metals or consumer durables.

MyOwnIndia.com wishes Bhupen Rabha and Bobeeta Boro a Happy and Socially Committed Married Life.

(The article  and photo is based on an article appeared in The Hindu on February 4, 2019.)