During the rainy season when the wind currents are just right, multi coloured kites of all sizes brighten the dull-looking sky, and Karim Manjav is at his happiest. A native of Solapur, he has a kite shop opposite the Chhatrapati Shivajl Market in the Pune Cantonment. Although only 45 years old, he already looks like an old man of sixty. He has four children, their ages varying from two years to 10 years. The family stays in a one-room tenement in Bhavani Peth. Karim came to Pune more than 30 years ago as a young boy. For a decade, he worked as a waiter in various restaurants in and around the city. However, his earnings were meagre. When he married 15 years ago, he found he was unable to support his family. He had to find a better paying job. This made him move into business, selling kites and fruit.
Interest
Karim got involved with the kite business because he was himself interested in kite-flying as a boy. Until recently he would take part in kite-flying competitions in which there was money at stake. Recollection of the latter seemed to bring to his mind painful memories. He was a trifle shame faced when asked about it and refused to elaborate.
Karim pays a monthly rent of Rs. 25 for his stall where he sells kites and the cord that goes with it. He orders readymade kites from elsewhere. The special cord, treated with glue and glass, he prepares him-self. The gaily coloured kites and reels of cord are cleverly arranged, so as to display them to the best possible advantage. Very few boys passing by the shop can resist the temptation of stopping to watch this sight and fewer still can resist the impulse to buy. Grown-ups stop, too: but just to have a look at the luscious Malgobar mangoes or at the pineapples that Karim has in a band cart by the side of the stall.
Competition
In spite of fierce competition from a neighbouring kite stall, Karim still gets a good number of customers. He attributes this to the superior quality of his cord, a good deal of which is bought by small dealers in the surrounding area. On an average day during the peak season, Karim makes a sale of about Rs. 100/-, with a profit of Rs.20-30. During the rest of the year, he works as a fruit vendor. His income then falls to Rs. 25.30 per day. The whole day Karim is busy trying to earn enough to make two ends meet, and hence he has no time for leisure. He works alone without business partners and with only his wite to help him.
Decline
He is sad because his business is on the decline . He finds he cannot cope with the demand any more. His mind is diverted between selling fruit and atten-ding to the shop. The work is hard. The treatment of the string is a long and tedious process. Besides, he has to save for the lean season when he goes about with a handcart.
Karim has resigned himself to his fate. He is not interested in politics or in social welfare organizations. He has no suggestions on how his lot could be improved. Who knows when and why his hopes and dreams were shattered. He has no future plans for his children. They do not go to school. He has only a vague idea that “they will work somewhere.” He has a fatalist outlook on life and accepts unquestioningly all that comes his way.
