Black and White Memories

By the busy Khadki Railway Station,amidst the early morning office-goers sits Subhash Pawar with an array of newspapers and magazines before him. Seated by the road,Pawar diligently instructs his team of 20 workers to ensure that the newspapers reach the respective lines on time. For the 67-year-old Pawar however,this has been a way of life for the last five decades. “I used to work alone back then. Now I have a full-fledged team of people to work under me,” he says,seated modestly by the roadside. Pawar’s chance beginnings as a newspaper vendor happened in 1961. “I was really depressed. I was 17 years old and all my friends secured jobs at the Ammunition Factory in Khadki. In sheer desperation,I ventured into the newspaper selling business,” he adds.

Having worked non-stop since 1961,Pawar has since moved from a small one-room place in Khadki to a three-storeyed bungalow in Navi Sanghvi. Attributing his phenomenal rise to his simplicity and hard work,he maintains that he has no inhibitions about sitting by the roadside and continuing his business. “I will buy a shop soon,not just here in Khadki but also in Aundh where my main customer base is,” he adds. Even though Pawar is now aided by two of his sons Prashant and Pravin,his day begins at 3.30 am in the morning. “First,the segregation of the papers is done,then the delivery boys go to the respective lines to distribute them. Finally,at about 8.30 am,I take the papers myself and go to the various lines to ensure that everyone has received their newspapers and magazines,” he reveals.

Pawar now has over 30 brands of magazines and newspapers that go to over 2500 customers daily. His dedication to his work is something to write home about. He even went to distribute newspapers on the day his mother passed away and even on his wedding day. He has been ably aided by his scooter,who was christened ‘Dhanno’ by his friends,he says with a smile. “There are times when the newspaper boys don’t deliver the papers and are slack with their work. That is something that I don’t tolerate. A few days back,one of my oldest customers called me to inquire why his newspaper hadn’t reached him. I personally went to his house at 2.30 pm to deliver the newspaper,” he says.

Pawar now delivers the papers in areas like Aundh road,Bhau Patil road,Khadki,Mumbai-Pune highway,Military Hospital Kirkee,Mandali Lines,Range Hills and Spicer College. Pawar says that for him the money he earns is always secondary to the customers. “I come from a very humble background and I know the value of money,but it is not everything for me,” he points out. He gives the example of a customer who could not afford to pay him for his service for almost two years. “Even when the family asked me to stop giving them the newspaper,I didn’t because I knew how important the morning newspaper was for them. They eventually paid me every penny and even now whenever they meet me,they invite me to their place for tea,” he recounts.