While conducting our interview with Ahmed ji, something drew our attention to his helper. Beside having a dustbin the helper disposed the broken bangles to the tree, which was in the middle of the shops with a platform made around it for the people to sit. This is a matter of concern that as he threw the bangles it could hit any person and the broken bangles could even hurt the animals around. When we talked to him about it, he said that those broken  bangles were later swept by a sweeper and she throws it all in the bin. Then we raised the idea of recycling the broken bangles, he said that the recycled glass again made into the bangles are shabby looking and it losses its grace and also needs a lot of heat. He wasn't too happy with the idea, so we thought of another one.
The idea of reusing the bangles for different interiors. Many interior designers use bangles in their interior work and decoration.
So he could collect them all and provide it to some interior designing company. He was fascinated with the idea and agreed to the idea. So this way we could give him one design outcome from our research work.

-Krisha

The laws of life are founded on necessity, its charms on the non essentials.
How beautifully Ahmed ji expresses himself through his golden speech. Though it is said that speech is silver and silence is gold -but Ahmed ji knows how to charm and fascinate his customers by his golden speech and golden heart .His kind words "BETA"and  "MERI BETI" and smile  are enough to attract all the young lads and adults. How amicably and wonderfully his blessings and kind words are interwoven. Not only did he receive us kindly and talked to us generously but also he gifted us two bangles each as a souvenir and of course he knew the art of living and happiness. We were over whelmed by his gift and blessings. He was showering blessings on us by gifting us and avered he " bas beta aap khush raho" ache se padhai karo" touched our hearts. Hardly do we know how much these words will benefit us but one thing is for sure , he will always be blessed by GOD.
Though Ahmed ji is a businessman and the aim is to earn money and run his family, but no compromise on norms and ethics. He is directed by his inner impulse so he does not sell "chura" as he feels that chura once tried becomes "jhoota" i.e false and invalid and the customers who come and try it once and leave it ought not to be tried by any other bride. So he maintains the "sanctity" of his business and norms both.
I do realise that I have learnt some extra-ordinary things from this ordinary man- "dont add years ro your life but add life to your years"

                                                                           -Manasvi 

      Our group of six students arrived at Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place. There were a rows of shops of "chai walas", "churi walas", "mehendi walas". What attracted me the most was the vibrant colorful bangles stacked in rows. The name “Babu Churi Wala” fascinated us all so we chose this shop for our fifth module that is Design Outcome.

 This shop was quite a big one with variety of bangles hanging in rods on all the three sides of the shop. In the middle of the shop was a shelf which divided the shop into two sections. In one section all the neon and bright colorful glass bangles were displayed and on the other side of the shelf were all stone embedded bangles were kept which are the probably the most expensive ones.

The shopkeeper, Nabhi Ahmed an old man aged 62 years was a soft spoken man. He was very friendly and addressed us as “beta ji” and “beti ji”. There was a bench outside the shop for the customers to sit while he himself sat on the floor.

Some bangles were also stored in cardboard boxes which were kept above the racks and on the floor. 

As there was no proper place to dispose off the broken bangles he was throwing them in front of a tree.

He showed his expertise in mixing and matching the bangles. He took pride in telling us that since four generation they were all in the same business and that all the other “churi walas” are his relatives. He very proudly carried out his legacy and was very satisfied and happy with his work.

I, along with my friends tried many beautiful colored bangles. We bought his bangles at the price of Rs.100 for 24 bangles. Seeing our   beautiful bangles our other friends were also tempted to buy them. This was the most overwhelming experience that I ever had.

                                                                   -Ankita

                                     

                   Jingle Bells

Shades Of Pink

Colourful Glass Bangles

Wedding Bangles

Neon Pink♥

Neon Bangles

                                     

                    Glass Bangles


                                                                  -Ankita

BABU CHURI WALA

"BABU CHURI WALA"  IS A NAME OF THE SHOP NEAR HANUMAN MANDIR WHICH WILL BE THE TOPIC OF OUR STUDY.

The shopkeeper of this shop is as interesting as the name of his shop. The name of the shopkeeper is NABHI AHMED, and the name of his shop is kept after his father in law. Ahmed ji is in his 60's and is a jolly and zealous personality dressed in white kurta and dhoti who sits on the floor of his shop of bright and ravishing bangles. He greeted us warmly and was quiet pleased to help us, as he welcomed us, made us comfortable and was cooperative to tell us about his shop.
He took pride in telling us that his 4 generations have been engaged in this business , he was carrying on the legacy of his family. Though a true and devoted follower of ISLAM his prime aim in sitting near HANUMAN MANDIR was to win bread for his family as the churi bazar was the main attraction for the visitors.

He told us that the whole market of churiwalas is occupied by his kith and kin. We observed that the man with his true sense of business was treating his customers with all the warmth and humility adressing everybody as "beta ji" and maintained his reppo and reputation amongst his old and new customers.
They feared no competition as they had the best variety and were unparalleled in their profession. His blessings and warmth attracted many customers.
Day one was fruitful and we look forward to attain more knowledge and experience in the coming days.

                                                                                              -Krisha, Manasvi

A new module has started a new journey with a set of new people.
Our study revolves around the make shift shops around Hanuman mandir. We had to choose a shop keeping in mind ways to bring about economical and beneficial changes for the shop which would attract customers.
There were many places to pick from, so after a lot of discussion on the pros and cons of each shop we finally chose an antique shop known by the name 'Babu Churi Wala'.
It's a tiny yet well known shop among many others for vibrant bangles displayed beautifully with a huge variety.
The owner of the shop was a 62 year old soft spoken humble man, Nabhi Ahmed who was a man of principles with years of experience. His kind and loving nature towards his customers and us, a bunch of inquisitive college kids, is what we adored. Without fail, he addressed all his customers as 'Beta ji' with a welcoming smile and showered his blessings to all.

Something unique among all the churi walas there was their unity and that they feared no competition rather they were a well knit family.

                                                                                            -Prateet, Sanya, Pragya