Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh’s capital Bhopal is famous for its cleanliness and abundance of natural resources. Despite being the capital city, major events are held in other cities of Madhya Pradesh. As a resident of Bhopal, Sparsh Dwivedi disliked this trend. He researched about the matter and found out that reason was unavailability of airports and essential infrastructure connections with larger cities across country. 

Launching a campaign

In January 2023, Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas was organized in another city rather than in Bhopal. Sparsh determined to contribute his bit in the development of Bhopal. He established connections and had discussions with people and inspired a sense of belongingness in them. Within a span of a few weeks, the small-level drive transformed into a big-level campaign. In February 2023, Sparsh along with his supporters named the campaign ‘Let’s Brand Bhopal’.

Citizens contributing their bit

Sparsh initiated the Bhopal branding walk in 2023 with the aim of bringing a sense of belonging among the city's residents. A talk show was organized as part of this effort, and the ‘I Love Bhopal’ campaign was launched. People were provided with ‘I Love Bhopal’ printed T-shirts. During this period, a significant number of individuals from various backgrounds, including politicians, doctors, engineers, social workers, athletes, NRIs, and civil servants, enthusiastically joined the campaign. 

Becoming a representative

With his dedicated efforts, Sparsh became the representative and the voice of the campaign. Concerns about the city’s infrastructures were raised and the transformation became noticeable after a few months. Flight services from Bhopal to Goa have been initiated. The government has announced the development of international stadium and convention centres. 

Aiming for a better future

Sparsh shares that the government must focus on developing the city from the perspective of increasing international business along with promoting tourism. Momentum must be gained by organizing national and international events in Bhopal. If the idea of making the largest convention centre in Bhopal turns into reality, it will boost the city’s economy. 

According to Sparsh, making these convention centres is essential as when any foreign delegate visits the city for work purposes, they also take out time the explore the nearby areas. And if they like the local environment, they might return back for spending their vacations. This will not only strengthen the city’s economy, but Bhopal’s image will change from just being known for its gas tragedy. 

Building a common platform

Bhopal’s citizens must nurture a sense of belongingness for their city. Sparsh’s campaign was organized specifically for this purpose. People from all backgrounds connect and share their opinions. This helps them understand the views of the majority. Furthermore, Sparsh shares that business organizations are also contributing to their cause.