My bag has been a trusted companion in my life—no ordinary bag, but a symbol of my personality, my thoughts, and my habits. For fifty years, it has been by my side—sometimes filled with books, sometimes with papers, and at other times, with dreams.

My late friend, Shravan Kumar, would occasionally gift me new bags, each with its own unique story. Prof Paras Nath Choudhary from Darbhanga, an old socialist comrade from Delhi, even sleeps with his bag. Meanwhile, the late Comrade Ram Kishore’s bag was always packed with revolutionary pamphlets and leaflets. These bags were not just carriers; they were symbols of self-reliance, ideology, and change.

Read in Hindi: ‘मैं और मेरा झोला’: पचास वर्षों का साथ…

A cloth bag or jhola is not just an object to hold belongings—it’s a way of life. It reflects a mindset that breaks free from the slavery of plastic and harmonises with nature. When we carry our bags, we don’t need plastic or polythene bags. This small step can lead to a significant change in saving the environment.

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. It not only pollutes our earth but also proves deadly for marine life, wildlife, and human health. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose and poison our soil and water. 

Cloth bags are not only eco-friendly but also durable and stylish. Nowadays, the market offers a variety of attractive cloth bags with inspiring messages printed on them. These bags don’t just enhance your shopping experience—they also establish you as a conscious citizen. If every individual stops using plastic bags at their level, the collective impact will be enormous.

For me, my jhola is not just a bag—it’s an ideology of simplicity, self-reliance, and environmental conservation. You, too, should embrace a beautiful bag in your life—one that not only carries your belongings but also fulfils your responsibility toward nature.