They may be archrivals in politics, but for many top leaders of political parties in Tamil Nadu, A. Rouf Basha, an authorised stamp vendor here, is a favourite. It was on the stamp papers bought from him that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M. Karunanidhi filed their affidavits.
Mr. Basha is one of the stamp vendors in high demand in the city today. He runs his business from a narrow room in his house on Pari Purana Vinayagar Koil Street at Mylapore. Now 68, he started this business in 1997 and since then, customers have been flowing into his shop.
“Most of the time, I do not know I am selling stamp papers to some or the other political leader. Their lawyers provide the details and get the stamp papers on their behalf. Some names do ring a bell sometimes,” Mr. Basha says.
His clients include celebrities like K.J. Yesudas, musician, Latha Rajnikanth, wife of actor Rajinikanth, and other film personalities. However, all this has not made him rich. “The commission I get for the stamp papers is small. I charge a nominal fee for my transport needs alone,” he says.
He had been in the business of renting vessels earlier, earning a decent income. “When I came to know about the stamp dealer’s licence, I applied for it with the Treasuries and Accounts Department and got one,” he says. “I am doing this as a service. My earning is the happiness on the customer’s face. I feel happy when they return and say they bought a house or property without any problems,” says Mr. Basha, before he turns around to serve yet another customer.
