Soumi Goswami
If you have heard any such one-liner or a pun in Bengali, you have traveled in local trains in Kolkata. And it is impossible to forget one integral part of local trains, the hawkers. These men and women laden with goods, thronging the compartments of local trains, sell everything one can imagine. From safety pins to medicines, books to Zandu balm, beauty products to plastic toys, you will find everything to fill your grocery list while traveling in the local trains of Kolkata.
These hawkers sell words rather than goods. They are creative performers and astounding ones at that. The local train hawkers are daily wage workers. They have a luxury of nothing except creativity. Hence, they make the most of it to earn their living.
The crafts of their trade are extraordinary. They have to stroll through the train compartments that are brimming like an overflowing bucket of water. Managing some space to breathe and a few steps to move among the crowd. They not only have to attract attention with their words but persuade the travelers to buy their goods. And for them, they say, “everything sells”. And they are the pretty good ones at that. Because, one who has resources may even sell gold, but these hawkers, if they have mud, they got to sell it. This is the basic difference between other sellers and train hawkers.
From giving medical advice to summarizing a book. From reciting poems to telling puns, they know how to play with words. About their appearances? Simple yet extraordinary. They may be wearing a plain cotton shirt, but pockets are full of colorful pens or candies. They may have put on a khaki pant but their shoulders and hands are ladened with bags oozing with goods.
These men and women fight a battle every day and win it like a Hero. They make their ends meet by selling toffies, candies, ball pens, safety pins, and what not! Interesting lives, don’t they?
