A Decade ago , after last day of the month when pappa used to get his pay cheque , mom used to write a long list of grocery items to be bought for the month.
She then used to take the list ask me to join her to the baniya shop. There the scene was like a mid size shop with grain bags full of rice , wheat etc , some plastic items tied on in the front entrance of the shop , some toffy / chocolate filled glass bottles.
Once we enter the shop , the baniya then used to call by name Govekar ji , kya haal hei , list laye ho ya likhwana hei :) (means have you brought the list of grocery or u want me to write it for you). Then mom used to recite the list like a mantra to him he used tell some one in the shop in his language (mother tounge) , mean while he will crack a joke etc and offer a toffe or chocolate to me and say kahaao kahaao (eat , eat). once he is done with the order taking , he will instantly make a bill and hand it over to mom and ask , saman ghar bhijwana hei ke leke jaaoge ( do u want a home delivery or you will carry it ). Mom used to say ghar bhijwaao paise baad me milenge ( Mom used to say send it home and then i will pay the bill). The boy working at the shop keepers place will load all the grocery and will send take it home on his cycle.
Once he unloads all of it at our place mom used to pay the money to him and give him a tip of some one or two rupees, he used to have a big smile getting that tip and go . That was some where till 1990.
After that came era of the shopping malls . The scene changes here , same grocery list , a systematic big shop , with all the possible departments under one roof , a security clearance in the entrance , baggage deposit counter , nice cool A/C and loads of advertisements here there every where. Take a trolley bag , go to any counter/shop and pick up the grocery needed , then do window shopping , roam around the mall with kids sitting (if any) in the shopping trolley and telling mom or dad who ever is holding the trolley for some thing they have seen and want to buy it. Mom telling you to hold the trolley and seeing whats the cheapest offer for the day . Every item you see has a price tag with no shop keeper there to give a free toffe or chocolate like the earstwhile 'Baniya shop' , no one knows you by your name. Once the shopping is done quitely stand in a que and swipe your card once all items are scanned by the barcode reader.
Pick up the trolley and unload the grocery in autorick or ur own car if u have , drive home .
So much difference in one decade , i think a time will come when people will not visit a mall or shopping complex any more , there might be virtual shops on your 3D internet enabled TV , just log on have a look at what is available on line , swipe your card as per order and then they beam those items directly to your home :) Three cheers to modern Technology !.
Once we enter the shop , the baniya then used to call by name Govekar ji , kya haal hei , list laye ho ya likhwana hei :) (means have you brought the list of grocery or u want me to write it for you). Then mom used to recite the list like a mantra to him he used tell some one in the shop in his language (mother tounge) , mean while he will crack a joke etc and offer a toffe or chocolate to me and say kahaao kahaao (eat , eat). once he is done with the order taking , he will instantly make a bill and hand it over to mom and ask , saman ghar bhijwana hei ke leke jaaoge ( do u want a home delivery or you will carry it ). Mom used to say ghar bhijwaao paise baad me milenge ( Mom used to say send it home and then i will pay the bill). The boy working at the shop keepers place will load all the grocery and will send take it home on his cycle.
Once he unloads all of it at our place mom used to pay the money to him and give him a tip of some one or two rupees, he used to have a big smile getting that tip and go . That was some where till 1990.
After that came era of the shopping malls . The scene changes here , same grocery list , a systematic big shop , with all the possible departments under one roof , a security clearance in the entrance , baggage deposit counter , nice cool A/C and loads of advertisements here there every where. Take a trolley bag , go to any counter/shop and pick up the grocery needed , then do window shopping , roam around the mall with kids sitting (if any) in the shopping trolley and telling mom or dad who ever is holding the trolley for some thing they have seen and want to buy it. Mom telling you to hold the trolley and seeing whats the cheapest offer for the day . Every item you see has a price tag with no shop keeper there to give a free toffe or chocolate like the earstwhile 'Baniya shop' , no one knows you by your name. Once the shopping is done quitely stand in a que and swipe your card once all items are scanned by the barcode reader.
Pick up the trolley and unload the grocery in autorick or ur own car if u have , drive home .
So much difference in one decade , i think a time will come when people will not visit a mall or shopping complex any more , there might be virtual shops on your 3D internet enabled TV , just log on have a look at what is available on line , swipe your card as per order and then they beam those items directly to your home :) Three cheers to modern Technology !.
A good description of Bania shop and the way mom used to buy provisions some years ago! What a contrast it is now as malls have sprung up with all kinds of shops. Maybe now we might end up buying some things which are attractively displayed and well priced but not actually necessary for use. Enjoyed the blog!!
ReplyDelete