Mumbai's dabbawallahs at her majesty's service: Silver anklets for Baby Archie

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Dabbawallah Association has announced that it will despatch silver jewellery to the UK for Baby Archie, the newborn son of British royals Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex.


"We are pleased that our friend Prince Charles has become a grandfather again," said Subhash Talekar of Mumbai Dabbawallahs Association. "We will gift the baby the traditional silver cummerbund, anklets and wristband. We cannot afford gold. I know that the baby may not wear the ornaments, but at least the royal family will store our gifts."

The association is yet to determine its budget. Silver is currently priced Rs 40,000 per kg in Mumbai.

Talekar's friend, businessman Pavan Agarwal, who has done a PhD on dabbawallahs, will chaperone him to Sejal Jewellers in

Ghatkopar

to make the purchases Friday. Agarwal said, "I had bought traditional slippers and a turban for Prince William and a sari for Duch- ess of Cambridge Kate at their wedding. I visited Buckingh- am Palace in 2009 and was pleased to see they have retained our presents in the gift gallery."

But Anil Jain who runs Sej- al Jewellers said, "I am not aware what they wish to buy for the royal family, but I stock only diamond and gold, not silver."

Raghunath Medge of the rival Nutan Tiffin Dabbawallah Association dismissed this move as another publicity stunt, saying that Talekar and Agarwal had merely registered an association and had no follow- ers among dabbawallahs. "Neither of them has ever lifted a tiffin themselves. Merely writing about our trade does not give you the right to claim affiliation. In fact, our community has been swindled by those who claim to represent us."