Elderly tailor who stitched memories

People usually get inspired by leaders, celebrities, inventors, authors, activists, and by mentors etc and write about them. There are n-number of examples of inspiration. But today, I am going to tell my readers about an elderly who inspired me much—my maternal Uncle Mr. Abdul Gaffar Darzi, known by everyone in the relation as Gaffar Maam. His life, a tapestry woven with threads of struggle and resilience, inspired my to not let his tale remain untold. He is not my Mamu (mother’s brother) but my aunt’s (Mosi) husband—a very renowned tailor of his time in Baramulla town, a profile of courage and a good human being.

Gaffar Maam who is in his early seventies resides at Old Town, Baramulla. He is running a Kiryana shop just outside his house in a street nowadays. There are hundreds of our elderly citizens like him who after getting retired or reach old age are told to run shops. But nobody knows that once these neglected elderly where the heroes of our society. As I reflect on my time with him, I realize he had a shop viz. Janbaz Tailors near taxi stand (now Sumo stand) which was unique and had earned him a name in the whole Varmul vicinity.

His life which taught me to cherish simple joys, cultivate patience and to find beauty in life’s monotonies; had a profound impact on me. He stitched everything at his shop. But what had made him so popular among his customers was undoubtedly, his stitching of Coat Pants worn those days by first class officers posted in the town.

I’d have been merely 10 years old when I would accompany my mother to my Mosi’s edifice at Tawheed Gunj, Old Town. Next day, when we would leave for home, Gaffar Maam would take us along towards his shop that I still remember had a green sign board written in white letters Janbaz Tailors. I recall, those days, his customers would talk to him in Urdu and called him Chacha. But, he would in turn speak to them in Kashmiri by often using a word Mahara (derived from the word Maharaj). Very late, I came to know that he used this term as an honorific title for Pandit fraternity customers who were posted in the town.

During Hartals (strikes) when Gaffar Maam’s shop would remain closed, his customers usually Pandit brothers would visit him at home which was a five storey old traditional house—an architectural marvel having Zoon Dab taken out. He had kept a separate sewing machine on an old Takhta (wooden stand) at home too. Though at his shop, he had 2-3 apprentices, called Chraat locally; yet back home; he tailored clothes all alone at his balcony from where one could see the entire Khanpora village.

Gaffar Maam is still down-to-earth, hardworking, respectful and a noble person offering nimaz five times a days over decades. Although his youthful vigor, strength and endurance has faded from him now, yet, he slowly keeps the flame of his skill burning which he never gave up even when witnessing hard times in his life.

Being a unique character among relatives, he is respected everywhere. During any family function or a wedding, he was separately invited in order to bring decency to the gathering. Now that he least participates in such occasions, yet, in past no sooner he would appear than every one would show a sense of Haya (modesty), only being deferential towards him.

He preferred hygiene and healthy food despite living in a town where life is surrounded by so many expenses. Never in my life, had I seen him eating un-fresh vegetables. Instead he had a routine every morning to go to the market across river Jhelum and fetch fresh vegetables from the women vendors who laid their stall early. For seven days in a week, Gaffar Maam bought seven different vegetables, and the expenses he managed out of his own tailoring income.

During summers, he would not only bring vegetables home but also some Urdu newspapers. I had quite often seen him reading ‘Chattan’ and ‘Alsafa’ newspapers in a calm atmosphere at his balcony before stitching clothes.

Known in his mohala as Chacha, he heads mohala committee over decades now. Since 1947, he has not only created a living through tailoring but has married his three sons too. He’s still working the same job but occasionally besides running a Kiryana shop been started by his younger son. A famous tailor once, he is now known to least. But his life of unwavering optimism, struggle, perseverance and work hard has instilled in me a sense of hope and spirit. Whenever I face life’s challenges, I am reminded of him, suggesting me life struggles are opportunities for growth, and that everything that blooms has to fade away one day. His spirit remains ageless. May he live long!

Manzoor Akash is educator, and author from Rafiabad