Hatibagan shoe shop vanishes !
The name of the shoe shop was probably ' Bhattacharya &Co'
and it was situated on the important crossing of Hatibagan
of North Calcutta. I used to frequently visit the shop for my
requirements of foot wears. I was around 38/39 years of age
when I had the opportunity to meet the proprietor of the shop
who was eagerly showing varieties of shoes according to my
choice. Somehow we got down to a casual conversation when
I asked him about the age of the shop. I don't remember the
actual words that he had spoken but I could still recollect that
he suddenly became sentimental. Soon I realized that he was
too attached to the shop and went on and on to convince me
that it's old -perhaps the oldest footwear shop in Hatibagan.
Finally when he stopped I asked him an impertinent question.
" And how long do you expect the shop to last -I mean do you
expect the next generation to stick to it ?" He looked exasperated
and thought for a while.
"My sons are from the educational world and am not sure! "
It so happened that one day I dropped my son in a renowned
College Street school and was returning home. During those
days gurdians usually interacted with each other after leaving
their children to school. That day too I had company along with
me. We were walking towards our homes when suddenly I came
to know that he was none other than the footwear shop owner's
son.
I took the opportunity to relate the conversation I had with his
father. Soon I came to know that he was a qualified Engineer
and worked in SAIL. He listened quietly and finally we parted.
The most amazing part was that same Engineer never hesitated
in running the footwear shop -even putting shoes to various
customer's foot himself. Whenever I passed his shop I always
saw him working shoulder to shoulder with the workers (of
course after office hours )who seemed very proud of him.
One shouldn't forget that Engineers were held very high
during those days!
But..but...few years back when I had the opportunity to visit
Hatibagan the footwear shop vanished and some fast food has
taken it's place !
I couldn't hold back my tears !!!
I asked him about the age of the shop. I don't remember the
actual words that he had spoken but I could still recollect that
he suddenly became sentimental. Soon I realized that he was
too attached to the shop and went on and on to convince me
that it's old -perhaps the oldest footwear shop in Hatibagan.
Finally when he stopped I asked him an impertinent question.
" And how long do you expect the shop to last -I mean do you
expect the next generation to stick to it ?" He looked exasperated
and thought for a while.
"My sons are from the educational world and am not sure! "
It so happened that one day I dropped my son in a renowned
College Street school and was returning home. During those
days gurdians usually interacted with each other after leaving
their children to school. That day too I had company along with
me. We were walking towards our homes when suddenly I came
to know that he was none other than the footwear shop owner's
son.
I took the opportunity to relate the conversation I had with his
father. Soon I came to know that he was a qualified Engineer
and worked in SAIL. He listened quietly and finally we parted.
The most amazing part was that same Engineer never hesitated
in running the footwear shop -even putting shoes to various
customer's foot himself. Whenever I passed his shop I always
saw him working shoulder to shoulder with the workers (of
course after office hours )who seemed very proud of him.
One shouldn't forget that Engineers were held very high
during those days!
But..but...few years back when I had the opportunity to visit
Hatibagan the footwear shop vanished and some fast food has
taken it's place !
I couldn't hold back my tears !!!
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