Update from the Dharna in Mehendiganj
Phone Conversation with Nandlal on May 02, 2006
Nandlal:
" The cycle rally we had organized turned out to be quite good. We were hoping to mobilize about 100 youth but we managed to get about 60 youth. We went to 25 villages and held public meetings/street plays/songs, etc to raise awareness and support for our struggle against Coca-cola. That day turned out to be a very hot one with a high of 44 degrees C and we were really afraid that people would fall sick. At the end of the day, people were really tired because of all the travel in the heat.
We went close to the Coca-Cola factory and held a public meeting there and we ended the rally at the Rajatalab market. We went to all the water stops and explained to people the reason we are having the water stops. Lotta (from Sweden) accompanied us in an auto-rickshaw and she even filmed parts of the rally. We were welcomed in all villages, people offered us water to drink and they were very receptive to our message.
The program on the 28th and 29th was very good. On the 28th we had a meeting at Kashi Vidyapeeth and it was very well attended. Later in the day we went to Mehdiganj and held a meeting with all the volunteers. Rajendra Singhji had very good suggestions, and we are planning to implement them. "