Quilt-maker Mohd Nafees is all for inter-faith unity

Story by  Tripti Nath | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 1 Years ago
Mohammd Nafees with his workers in his shop (Pics by author)
Mohammd Nafees with his workers in his shop (Pics by author)

 

Tripti Nath/New Delhi

The nip in the air which comes with Diwali makes 30-year-old Mohd. Nafees, a happy man. He looks forward to Diwali as the festival of lights also brings along gaiety and a spell of winter in Delhi. The time of the year is good for his business of filling quilts and cushions.

Mohd. Nafees, a school dropout from Habibi Inter College, Moradabad, really welcomes the arrival of Diwali and the onset of winter as it assures him good business. Clad in a cotton Kurta pyjama, Mohd Nafees looks perfectly attired with a green skull cap. He advocates peaceful co-existence in society and is oblivious of the perception of religious polarisation.

He has no time or inclination to give it much thought as he is busy eking out a living for his family. He is known for his honesty in the market.“Mere khayal se har insaan ka yeh nazariya hona chahiye ki pyaar mohabbat se rahein. Yeh to Hindustan ki tehzeeb hai.’’ (I think that people should have this point of view- to share love and affection. This is India’s culture.)

Mohd. Nafees’ says that he has Muslim and non Muslim customers. His shop remains open on Diwali and exchanges Diwali greetngs with all his customers and neighbors. A resident of Mahipalpur, he sells quilts, pillows and cushions from his small shop in Masoodpur, an urban village near Vasant Kunj in south-west Delhi.

He has been running Mansoori Cotton and Cooler shop here for over a decade. Back home, his family cultivates rice and millet. He took over this business ten years back after the untimely demise of his elder brother, Mohd. Anees. Before that, he was assisting his brother for six years in running the shop.

The neatly arranged shop with green plastic flooring, also sells folding beds, bedsheets, mattresses, pillow covers and doormats  throughout the year. In summer months, however he sells plastic and metal coolers. Some doormats selling in the shop are from Egypt and are provided by suppliers.

Behind a sewing machine at the entrance of the shop and a green table, one cannot miss a bunch of nearly two dozen receipts on a hook on the wall. On being asked what they are, Mohd. Nafees explains that these are receipts of his donations made to Madarsas. He has also studied in a madarsa and feels that it is his duty to donate to the Madarsas to help people send their children to Madarsas.

The writer with Mohammad Nafees inside his shop

Interestingly, he has informed opinion on issues such as the unfortunate death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in Iran last month for alleged improper wearing of the Hijab. He feels that this should not have happened.

Walking past the congested market, one cannot help but notice this shop as its front is taken up by Mohd Nafees’ workers who are busy stuffing cotton in quilts. Over the years, Mansoori Cotton and Cooler shop has gained enormous credibility. Many people prefer this shop the most when they are looking for cotton stuffed quilts that guarantee winter comfort.

Sanjiv Baruah, a radio broadcaster who came all the way from Alaknanda, looking for mattresses and cushions said he had heard about the shop.  He found the rates very reasonable and told Mohd. Nafees that he would come back to the shop soon to get his work done.

What is remarkable is that Mohd. Nafees is also providing livelihood to Mohd. Noorani, an illiterate and like-aged worker from Bakipur village in Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh besides Mohd. Shahnawaz, a 27-year-old Class V dropout from Bijnor.

“I pay workers a monthly salary of Rs 12,000 to Rs 13,000 and also take care of their medical expenses. I am also liberal in giving them leave. After making their payment, I am left with Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 every month. Of this, I send Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 to my family,’’ he says with a smile on his face.

He and his two workers offer Namaz in the godown. The work pressure in pre winter months is huge but they manage well with proper division of work and good collaboration. “We work from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday. We manage to fill 10 to 12 quilts in a day. Some people also come to get their quilts repaired. The rent here is very steep and we must work to keep the home fires burning,’’ says Mohd. Nafees.

Noorani who wears a grey skull cap, says he has a nine-year old son and a four- year- old daughter and is determined to give them complete education.

ALSO READ : Kargil's cricket sensation Maqsooma gets support for honing her skills

Meeting these workers is indeed inspiring as they are not only talented but also determined to earn a living in challenging circumstances. There are many such skilled craftsmen who make a living with hard work and honesty in Delhi.