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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: Soul of a sartorialist
A citizen of impeccable style, tea stall owner Shakir Hasan always wears ironed pants-shirt; the formal full-sleeve shirt neatly tucked into his belted pants. The slim, elegant man looks truly exclusive, for nobody around him here in Old Delhi's Bulbuli Khana neighbourhood is ever dressed like him. Most men here are seen either in traditional kurta-pajamas, or in ubiquitous denim jeans.. This afternoon, while making his nth round of chai, Shakir Hasan agrees to become a part of our Proust Questionnaire series, in which citizens are nudged to make 'Parisian parlour confessions', all to explore our distinct experiences. Your favourite drink. Doodh. The principal aspect of your personality. It has to be my passion to earn, and to look after my family. I'm also physically very fit compared to most people of my age, here in Dilli-6. Maybe because I walk a lot during the day, delivering chai to around 50 shops. Or, maybe because I have only one meal daily. Your favourite qualities in a person. The ability to understand the true essence of people he or she engages with everyday. What do you appreciate the most in your friends? Their readiness to support me in my bad times. Your main fault. Chain-smoking. You will always see me with Jai Bharat beedi. Where would you like to live? I live in Gali Saeed Khan. I was born there. All my forefathers lived and died here. So I am living where I want to live. Your favourite occupation. To earn the roti of honesty. So, I find satisfaction in my chai stall. My late father, Nawab Hasan, had founded it 38 years ago. Your favourite bird? Kabutar. Your favourite names. The names of my children. Adina, my daughter; Uzaif, my son. The natural talent you'd like to be gifted with. I had the gift. I was a cricketer in my youth, an all-rounder. Since Dilli-6 hardly has any open ground, we boys would play in India Gate Maidan. Faults for which you have the most tolerance. When people say things out of anger. They actually don't mean those hurtful things. How do you wish to die? While making chai.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: Portrait of a life
In his 60s, Puran Chand sells 'chick blinds,' the slatted bamboo screens that sieve the daylight streaming in through doors and windows. He spends the day walking along central Delhi localities. This afternoon, sitting on a shaded pave, he agrees to become a part of our Proust Questionnaire series, in which citizens are nudged to make 'Parisian parlour confessions', all to explore our distinct experiences. Your favourite colour. I'm always sad, I don't like colours. Your favourite bird. I like all birds. Each day, I carry grains in my pocket and give them to birds wherever I find them. Sometimes, I stop at traffic intersections where people tend to throw grains at birds, and I pick up some of the extra grains to give them to birds in places where nobody leaves any for them. Your favourite food. Whatever my wife, Vimla, prepares for me. I eat to survive. I just finished today's meal of rotis and kathal. Your favourite qualities in a man. His ability to earn well. Your favourite qualities in a woman. Her ability to get up early in the morning. What do you appreciate the most in your friends? The willingness to talk to me in the evening, after work. Your favourite occupation. I have sold chai. I have sold bread pakora. I have sold momos. I have worked in a book binding workshop. I've now been selling chick blinds for many years. But I have not been able to sell much for more than a month now. What would be your greatest misfortune? It has already happened. My mother Shri Batto Devi died when I was seven. I still remember her. Every morning, before leaving home to cut grass in a park, she would tell me a story. Where would you like to live? In a house of my own. Your favourite names. Anup and Binay, which are the names of my sons. And Nisha and Meenakshi, which are the names of my daughters. How do you wish to die? Whenever the breathing stops. What is your present state of mind? I'm thinking I work so hard, I earn so less.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: Portrait of a citizen
In the afternoon heat of late April, Hadees, a rickshaw puller, is waiting for his next customer. Seated at the backof the rickshaw, parked under the shade of a peepal tree, he agrees to become a part of our Proust Questionnaire series, in which citizens are nudged to make 'Parisian parlour confessions', all to explore our distinct experiences. What do you appreciate the most in your friends? When needed, they quietly lend me money… and quietly take it back when I return the amount. Your main fault. Being unable to rise in life is my big fault. I started as a rickshaw walla 23 years ago, and I'm still a rickshaw walla. Not enough money to buy the more convenient battery rickshaw, costing 1.5 lakh rupees. Your favourite occupation. I'm yet to experience it—to drive battery rickshaw. What would be your greatest misfortune? My life is my misfortune. I make my living from a rented rickshaw, and I live in a rented house. Your idea of happiness. To own my own house. Your favourite colour and flower. Gora, genda. Your favourite bird. It is a very colourful, hari-peeli bird. Can't recall the name. Your heroes in real life. My parents. They tried to educate me but things went beyond our control. I am the oldest among their five children. Since my siblings were very young when mother died, my father was forced to stay at home, and look after them, while I had to quit my studies to make a living for our family. Your favourite food and drink. Meat, daru. Your favourite names. Names of my children and my wife. Yamin, Shamsher, Asim, Arif—my sons, they are labourers. Shehzadi, Shanno, Sapna—my daughters, all are married. Raseedan, my wife. The natural talent you'd like to be gifted with. I want my arms and legs to remain in working condition, so that I can continue to work as a rickshaw walla. What is your present state of mind? I'm thinking when will I get my next sawari. How do you wish to die? While not owing money to anyone.
