In a small Chennai home filled with colours of Thanjavur art, 70-year-old Revathi Ganesan is busy with another creative mission — one that is not painted on canvas, but tied around the wrists of soldiers guarding India’s borders. For nearly three decades, Revathi has been handcrafting rakhis and sending them to the Indian Army, along with small tokens of blessings and sweets, as a heartfelt gesture of gratitude.
How It All Began
Revathi’s journey started in 1998 after the Coimbatore bomb blasts. Witnessing Indian Army personnel stationed in her city for peacekeeping duties, she felt a deep urge to thank them. As a Rotarian leading a community project that year, she decided to tie rakhis for the jawans. “They were protecting us so we could sleep peacefully. This was the only way I could show my gratitude,” she recalls.
That first year, she tied rakhis to soldiers in person — a moment that became a lifelong commitment. She still remembers a jawan who broke down in tears when she tied the thread, and another who emptied his pockets to give her something in return.
From Coimbatore to the Wagah Border
The following years saw her rakhis travel far and wide — including to the Wagah border. In a stroke of fate, an unscheduled army chopper once carried her packets directly to the soldiers there. Initially unsure if troops from different religions would accept the rakhis, she was encouraged by a Navy friend who reminded her that “the Indian Army has no religion.”
From 500 to 5,000 Rakhis a Year
Over the past 27 years, Revathi’s project has grown from 500 rakhis to an incredible 5,000 this year. She begins making them in March, and this time she had help from school children, teenagers, her 87-year-old aunt, and even a child with special needs.
Each rakhi packet includes not just the handmade thread, but also kungumam, vibhoothi, and Cadbury Eclairs — “the only chocolate that doesn’t melt,” she says with a smile.
Her husband plays the role of head of logistics, packing and shipping the rakhis to various Army locations across the country. While the Rotary Club offers some support, most expenses are covered by Revathi and her husband, with occasional contributions from friends and well-wishers.
A Rakhi With a Message of Unity
Revathi believes that her rakhis carry more than just thread — they are symbols of unity, respect, and love for the armed forces. “One day, I hope to send a rakhi to every jawan so that each of them knows how much they are valued,” she says.
Those wishing to support her mission can contact Revathi at 9042944171.
