A success story of unyielding baje
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU, Aug 11 - Popularly known as Gorkhapatra
baje (elderly person), his is the name very familiar in media. More so in his hometown,
Pokhara.
He is neither a prolific journalist nor a glamorous
anchor.
From a newspaper seller to a dealer, baje, 69, has
come a long way. A lone hawker years ago, this successful man has now seven errand
boys.
Even after thirty-five years of "relentless
service" Chandrakant Poudel's interest in this profession remains undiminished.
Perhaps, his keen interest is stimulated by the recent
boom in the business. Twenty-five years ago, he used to sell Gorphapatra- the country's
oldest daily newspaper- at 10 paisa. Now, the brisk seller does it at 400 paisa.
"It is not the revenue.It is the increase in the
number of readers which impress me," clarifies baje.
Come morning, and a long queue of readers stand in
front of his newsstand.
He, however, is not pleased with all the buyers. Cheap
tastes and behavioural changes of some of the readers deeply disappoint him.
"There are not many serious readers,"laments
baje.
"Most of them are frivolous young men who are
interested in nothing but indecent write-ups," says baje who believes the insatiable
thirst of those "degraded" readers have encouraged yellow journalism.
Recollecting his hard but challenging days as a hawker
of Himdut- a local weekly-baje says,"In those days, it was definitely a brave deed to
sell even two copies of newspaper. Now the situation has changed."
"And certainly for better," he adds with a
hearty smile.
He, now, sells about 3 thousand copies of 20 various
publications like hot cakes.
Fully recognizing his mettle in the business,
publishers rush to him as soon as new releases appear in the market.
"Almost all the newspapers published from the
capital and Pokhara find their way into my shop," says a visibly contented baje.
But not everything is hale and hearty with him.
He has some bad memories, too, during his decades of
'intellectual service".
Last year, on a Nepal bandh, an irate mob stormed into
the shop and indulged in vandalism. Hundreds of precious copies of newspapers were dumped
into the Seti river, laments the veteran dealer.
The unpleasant incident damaged his property worth Rs
125 thousand.
"Till now, I have not received the
compensation,"says baje.
He claims that he has already filed a petition at the
District Administration Office.
"This profession is my religion. No matter what,
I will be committed to it," he says.
For this dedicated newspaper dealer, education is a
religion.
