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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, September 28: For decades, Chor Bazaar has been the destination of Mumbaiites on the prowl for a good buy. However, shopkeepers in the area are uncomfortable with the sobriquet heaped onto the bazaar, and are demanding an image makeover.
Spread over three streets, this dusty enclave resells second-hand goods at phenomenally cheap rates, and in Mumbai’s parlance, is synonymous with a good bargain, never mind its origins.
But the shopkeepers are not happy. They lament, “The name Chor is a distortion of the original word Chouze’ (a surname). This causes all our problems, as people think that we only sell stolen goods.”
Others said, “We offer comparatively cheaper rates because most of our goods are second-hand, and if new, bought cheap from sources. Even our shops and services do not cost much.”
Another claimed, “Dawood Ibrahim used to stay in this area, and because of his notoriety, people still believe that all the smuggled and pirated goods are sold here.”
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (zone I), S R Dange stated, “Most of the shops pay taxes and hold licences, and some small stalls do not attract provisions of tax law, so they are not illegal, as many people believe.”
If everything has a price in Mumbai, and a hefty one at that, how is it that goods are so cheap here?
The shopkeepers’ modus operandi is simple. Revealed a shopkeeper Mohammed Shaikh, “We buy auctioned vehicles mostly from the BMC, BEST and police stations, dismantle them and sell the valuable parts, which are unavailable elsewhere, according to the requirements of our customers.”
An owner of electronics shop, S D Kumar said, “Most of the radio equipment, tape-recorders, and watches available at my shop are made in Delhi, which do resemble imported ones, but cannot be termed smuggled.”
The police agree that there are few shops which buy stolen or smuggled electronic items, remove the original name and sell it here.
The senior police inspector of J J Marg police station N M Askulkar also said although they do receive a few cases of cheating and stealing every month, the crime rate isn’t significant.
Some regulars to this century-old market revealed the machinations of a good steal: never let the shopkeeper on to your eagerness to buy, or you may be taken advantage of.
And if a shopkeeper demands Rs 100, start bargaining from Rs 10.
Another shopkeeper informed that even filmstars and noted artists visit Chor Bazaar looking for old and rare knickknacks which are unavailable elsewhere.
Pointed out a shopkeeper, “I don’t have fancy lighting, air-conditioning and scintillating music in my shop, yet film actress Parveen Babi is a regular here. Doesn’t it prove the credibility of my goods?”
