With no aspersions casted, directly or indirectly, on any political set up, I wish to talk about Kamaal Ahmed, a 60-year-old man, selling since the last 26 years on his bicycle, brooms, dusters, wipers, brushes, scrubbers, mops and anything that has to do with domestic cleaning, dusting, washing or polishing. “One swipe of my superior quality Jhadu is good enough to clean anything that is undesirable and non-appealing to the eye.” Says he with confidence.
I had been chasing Kamaal since June last year when I wanted to do an article on him. He lives at Nathupur, Gurgaon, where, the rent for a one-room-kitchen, which started at Rs. 900 a month, has, over the past 25 years, come up to Rs. 3,500/-. He is used to living alone. His family comprising of his spouse and six children, (two boys and four girls) live in Faizabad, Ayodhya. I had to chase him because after my first meeting with him, he had suddenly disappeared – there was no voice calling JHAADU WALA…! WIPER LE, DUSTER LE. Poor man, had contracted typhoid and a few allied illnesses which put him out of action for eight months. As per agreement, even during his long absence, he had to continue paying his house rent, built into which, are the charges for electricity and water as well. “My landlord has eighteen rooms like the one I live in and all of them are occupied” says he. “Though a bit weak, I am determined to work for my son, daughter and wife back home, for the sake of sustenance.
Irrespective of age, I have to work hard to not only earn a living for myself, but also need to save enough to send something home. Three of my daughters are married and have gone away with their husbands – my older son lives elsewhere with his family. So, I have to toil for my wife and the two children back home. My son helps his mother in farming on a small patch of land where we grow vegetables for our own consumption and also sell. Chirra Muhammadpur, distt. Faizabad, despite whatever the name might suggest, is not an area dominated by Muslims but has a multitude of communities, living peacefully together. We are very happy where we live”.
Asked about the challenges he faces while operating in Sushant Lok, he says “I have a designated area within Sushant Lok, where I can operate by paying in advance, a license fee of Rs. 10,000 per annum. I wonder why should Sushant Lok be charging me this, whereas, I am allowed to roam around in the DLF areas freely without paying a single penny?” asks he. I as the author of this article personally feel that once such vendors attain the status of Senior Citizen especially the ones who have been operating in the area for 20 + years, the annual charges should be waived off. Why tax a poor old man who sweats it out and manages to earn barely Rs 250 – 300 a day?
Kamaal says that he selects items of the most superior quality personally from Sadar Bazaar, making sure they are sturdier than the ones sold by the local vendors or even the ones available on online shopping apps. “The advantage is that my clients can make their choice right at their doorstep. It sounds awkward when people bargain for ten rupees, or stoop down to haggle for even five. It is indeed a pity.”
Being an ardent Muslim, Kamaal goes to the Jama Masjid every Friday. The cycling he does keeps him fit and active. “Now at 60, I might work for another three to four years in Gurgaon and will, thereupon, retire and live with my family and make, whatever I can, out of farming,” says he, with INSHA ALLAH..!
In case you want to buy anything from this poor man, you may call him at 87500 78229
