Occupation: Sells spices
We open for business at 7.30 a.m. every day. There are many stalls here at Connemara market, Palayam that start functioning early in the day, such as greengrocers and fish/meat stalls. Those who come to buy those often stop here too.
I don’t know exactly how old this shop is. Probably 50 years. It belongs to my cousin A. Mehaboob, whose father, Aboobacker, used to run it. Aboobacker’s father, Sultan Pillai, started this business, probably, the first such shop here in the market.
Mehaboob comes in the morning and evening to take stock of the affairs, otherwise I manage the shop. Earlier, I used to run a juice shop nearby. The salesperson working here left to take up a job abroad. That was when I was given the responsibility.
Talking about our stock, you get all kinds of spices here – cardamom, cumin, cloves, fennel, fenugreek, pepper, nutmeg, mace, bay leaf… We have many traditional products with medicinal value such as vayambu (sweet flag), ragi, athimadhuram (liquorice), honey gooseberry, palm candy, palm jaggery and dry ginger. Ramacham, kunthirikkam (Frankincense), red sandalwood powder, turmeric of different varieties, jaggery (in addition to the usual variety, white jaggery from Mettupalayam and vellam from Palakkad), sesame, horse gram and corn are also available.
Then there are dry fruits and nuts. We stock around 12 varieties of dates, most of them imported. Now, that Ramzan fast has begun, the sale of dates has gone up.
A product that is much sought after is coccum (kudampuli) that comes from Erattupetta and Pala. Our palm jaggery is also much in demand. It is still supplied by the same people from Marthandam from whom our grandfather used to buy.
New products have been added. For instance, we now sell snacks and savouries.
There are at least six shops in the market that sell spices. But we have managed to stay put because of the steady clientele. The market itself has undergone a lot of changes over the years.
Now that there is roofing over the row of shops, it is convenient for the shop-keepers and the customers alike.
Waste disposal has been an issue for some time. But, I feel, the situation is better now. Earlier there used to be days when we couldn’t do business because of the foul smell.
The nature of the business has changed in the market.
Many fancy stores have given way to textile shops, provision stores and those selling plastic products.
I am quite happy running this business. I haven’t studied much, so had to do many odd jobs. I worked abroad for a few years.
I stay at Manacaud with my wife, Naseema. Our son is working in Technopark and daughter has been married off.
The shop is open on all days, till 9 p.m. It is in the evening that we do maximum business. On Sundays, we close at 2 p.m. Now, that I am fasting, I get a tad tired. However, I ensure that the business is not affected.
(A weekly column on men and women who make Thiruvananthapuram what it is)
