Between the Lanes

I wish the world was twice as big, and half of it was still unexplored.

                                                                        -David Attenborough.

                                                                Day 2. Chandni chowk.

Entry into Asia's largest wholesale market-
Bhagirath Place

I walked into the slightly familiar Bhagirath Palace clutching my book and pen in hand, and taking care of where I set my foot.

The market had just opened, and there were shopkeepers and workers opening the shutters of their shops and cleaning their products. There was a different aura to the place this time. The air was yet to be filled with the stench of urine and paan, clouds of smoke and the cacophony of the bargaining customers. Everyone turned around to look at us and discuss with the bystanders as to why we, five girls would be there so early in the day. 

We made our way into a little opening, contemplating on how to split up to find the answers we were looking for. We were eager to talk to the people that practically lived there, we wanted to know about the problems the faced, the way they sold their things and so on and so forth. Little did we know, not everyone was eager to talk to us.

We were there on a mission. We wanted answers. So this time when we walked through the lanes I noticed my surroundings more carefully, analyzed the ambience of every lane, looked at every face and paid attention to the different sounds that created the environment.

It wasn't easy trying to get people to co-operate with us, while some offered us a seat and even water, the others shooed us away, not wanting to 'waste their time'. The onlookers were very amused, and would often crowd around the interviewee in an attempt to give a better answer than the other.

People moving around the lanes.

Each shop was different, and yet the same; some were big, while the others were small, some had happy faces, while some had annoyed looks. Each was distinct in its own way, but yet a part of Asia's largest wholesale market.

Some owners were pleasant and provided me with the answers I needed. It was a nice experience, getting to know the place from someone else's point of view, especially when that someone has been there for half his life. Most of the shops had been there for over 20 years, selling the same things in the same spot.

The current owner of Ruby Electricals, Joseph, puffed up with pride as he told me about the shop. He said that it was one of the oldest shops in Bhagirath Palace, "This tiny shop has been here for over 42 years. My father ran it before me, and his father before that.", he said.

When asked about the kind of competition the shopkeepers faced, and ways in which they overcame it, everyone said that although there was immense competition everybody already had a strong clientele, and as far as new customers were concerned they were won over by better quality products and better prices. 

North India Sales, selling surgicals, physiotherapy instruments,
acupuncture etc.

What we noticed this time was that Bhagirath Palace did not only house electrical products bust also surgicals, ayurvedic medicines and physiotherapy machines. As we moved from one stress to the other we noticed how the stocks were being replenished, and more storage area being created to fit more products. 

This times visit proved fruitful and we walked out with smiles on our faces and answers in our books. 

Until next time.