You will be wondering as to why I have written this episode, but I am sure after reading it you will acknowledge that like other episodes this is also interesting. This is about Sirdar, my younger brother, who happens to be six years younger to me.
I have told you before that he could not complete his high school as a result of which he was asked to spend his time in our (mundy) shop business in Bangarapet. That was a wholesale business in buying and selling rice, wheat, pulses and salt etc. It was also the intention of our father and our Taya Abba who were partners in the business to induct one of their sons at least in the business so that it could continue in the family. For this kind of business they had the necessary infrastructure, a three story building on the main street with a large warehouse to store various items in bulk for as long as possible.
None of the sons of Taya Abba or our brothers could be induced to join them inspite of their concerted effort. Sirdar was the only son of both families who had to agree to learn the business as he had given up education.
Today he is known to be a millionaire or even more alongwith another of our brothers Sarwar, but you may not believe how he started.
When he worked with Taya Abba and our father he was getting rupee one per month (about $7 a month in today's money) as stipend. That one rupee also had its purchasing power. He used to save that money and utilized in purchasing ingredients for making a big sweet dish which he devoured all by himself in a closed room. He used to eat so much sweet which ultimately made him fed up with all kinds of sweets. Today he won't touch any.
His main job in the business was to read an English newspaper (The Hindu) and explain the contents to our father and Taya Abba. They were interested in knowing about the ongoing Second World War. They were particularly keen to know about the exploits of Germany who seemed to be sweeping through Europe and North Africa. Like all Indians our elders also used to be pleased when they heard about Hitler's exploits and the humiliating defeats of the Allies.
Everyone believed that Germany and Japan will be victorious and the British will quit India. This was the aim of all Indians which they liked to read in the papers. For example if you don't like anyone and if you cannot beat him yourself you will be happy if he is beaten by someone else.
Since Sirdar was not in the habit of reading newspapers he was not able to read and absorb all that was written about the War and the tactics used by the enemies of British. Our elders lost interest and stopped the English newspaper. They were satisfied with a two page Urdu paper from Bangalore which gave headlines about important events. Besides rumors of all sorts were rampant.
In 1942 when both of us got married we shifted to Bangalore and I helped him in getting a job in Hindustan Aircraft Factory as a mechanic on Rs. 40/= P.M. (about $280 a month in today's money) After working for a few months in Bangalore he got an opportunity to manage a Ration Depot which was a much better chance moneywise. Besides it was in Bangarapet where he could save more.
Sometime before or just after his marriage he was influenced by some racketeers to go for a more prosperous job which was a sort of smuggling. Silk like heroin those days fetched ten to fifteen times the basic price if it was carried from small places like Bangarapet to big cities like Bombay. He managed to get hold of a bundle which he carried to Bombay without being challenged by authorities, but did not know where and whom to sell. Finally he got swindled by someone who promised to send him the fortune to his home address which never materialized. That was his first and last misadventure.
When he came to Pakistan alongwith Sarwar in response to my call he purchased a running business of a Dairy from a Hindu for Rs. 8000/= (about $32,000 in today's money). That amount in those days was considered to be quite substantial. Sirdar had no clue about running a dairy; purchasing cream, producing butter and selling to hotels etc. was not easy. Whereas cream sellers demanded money instantly, the hotel owners did not make payments as promised. Some of them never paid.
Sirdar had to handle the business all alone in the beginning as Sarwar had joined the Law college (Sindh Madrasa), where he thought he would finish his L.L.B. and become an Advocate. That dream never came true.
After running the business of dairy for a few years he shifted to Jahangir Road where he gradually consolidated and also bought the property to run the dairy and sales depot.
Although the sales were better in the new place with the appointment of a few sales suppliers he had other types of problems, such as harassment from government agencies, income tax and labor troubles. Fortunately Sarwar joined him and looked after these problems and outdoor work. His task was by no means easy as besides handling the touts of government agencies he had to look after the maintenance of all the equipment.
Both of them worked very hard to bring the business to its present level. God Almighty was very kind to both and particularly Sirdar made a fortune. The most pleasing point with Sirdar was that he did not swallow all the wealth earned by him himself. He shared it not only with his next of kin but he helped many poor and deserving relatives both in Pakistan and India. I would say he was most generous in helping others. The one blemish with both was that they could not be motivated to perform Haj inspite of the fact that God was so liberal with them.