Avinash Dudhe

Few people who regularly visit Chikhaldara, the hill station known as the paradise of Vidarbha in eastern Maharashtra, would not know Mohammad Ashraf and his Novelty Stores. This Novelty Stores just turned 60 years old on October 31st.

What can be called Chikhaldara's mini-departmental store or supermarket today, Novelty Stores, began its journey on October 31, 1965, as a small pharmacy. Ashraf, who was 19 years old when he started a small medical shop 60 years ago in the tribal-majority area of Chikhaldara.

At that time, Chikhaldara had a population of only 1,380, and its needs were few. Barely five or ten people a week would come to buy medicine for headaches, stomach aches, or minor fevers.

Slowly, Ashraf started a general store in the same space. Whatever essential goods the villagers needed, he would order for them from the nearby town of Achalpur.

Gradually, Ashrafbhai began stocking thousands of everyday items in his shop—from tooth powder, combs, towels, soaps, safety pins, talcum powder, and other cosmetics to underpants, vests, slippers, shoes, watches, pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, notebooks, paper, other school supplies, biscuits, chocolates, lights, batteries, cells, cold drinks, ice cream, and wafers.

Ashrafbhai in front of his store

Despite stocking thousands of items and after all these years, Novelty Stores is a large shop. However, you get everything there. His store is like Alibaba's cave. A customer asks for anything, and Ashrafbhai produces it from some corner in seconds.

Everything came to Chikhaldara first at Novelty Stores. The first STD PCO, the first fax machine, and the first internet access were at Novelty. For many years, Novelty has also been the only centre for selling newspapers and magazines.

No wonder the store is always crowded. You'll find everyone at Novelty, from tourists in flashy, fashionable city clothes to the local tribal residents. While one reason is that "you get everything at Novelty," the main reason is Ashrafbhai's‘ mithi zubaan’.

Ashrafbhai attends to everyone: a person, small or big, rich or poor, urban or tribal, he attends to everyone's needs with love and humility. Until the first decade of the 21st century, this was the only general store, pharmacy, and shop in Chikhaldara. Today, there are many, but the crowd is still at Novelty Stores. The reason is that Ashrafbhai understands and acts according to people's needs.

Many tribal residents don't have enough money. They hear the price of an item and turn to leave. Seeing their faces, Ashrafbhai stops them. "Give whatever you have now. Pay the rest the next time, as and when you can," he reassures them.

Today, Chikhaldara has a rural hospital. There are some private doctors too. But for many Adivasis, Ashrafbhai is still their doctor. For minor ailments like fever, cold, cough, headache, or vomiting, they trust Ashrafbhai's medicine. However, if it's something serious, Ashrafbhai quickly sends the patient to the hospital. With this nature of treasuring people, he has connected with literally thousands.

Chikhaldhara's scenic splendour

Today, Ashrafbhai is 79 years old. But he is still active for at least 12 hours a day. It is a rare sight to see him sitting down. People who come from every corner of the state—leaders, revenue and forest officers, doctors, industrialists, newspaper owners, senior journalists, and dignitaries from various fields—all share a bond with him.

Before immersing themselves in Chikhaldara's nature, these people sit at Ashrafbhai's shop for a few moments, exchanging pleasantries over a sip of tea. They discuss the changing Chikhaldara. Ashrafbhai, who knows the entire history and geography of Chikhaldara, shares many old, interesting memories of Vidarbha's paradise from the past sixty years.

But he never discusses his personal problems with anyone. Nor does he ever take advantage of his connections. He has endured many hardships in his personal life. He has lost many loved ones. He functions on a single kidney. But he never speaks about it.

If you ask him the secret of his cheerful nature, he gives a two-word answer: "Khuda ki meherbani"

He had many opportunities to earn money and build property. But Ashrafbhai remained content in his small Novelty Stores. Many who came after him earned lakhs and crores, gathering land and assets. But he feels no envy. If you ask him about it, he just says, "Khuda ki marzi. Uski kripa se shaanti se jee rahe hai".(God’s blessings. With his blessing I am living a peaceful life).

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His satisfaction and contentment overflow from his body language, spreading all around, and bringing peace to you as well.

(The author is a senior journalist and former editor)