I am Falgun Shah, a movie maniac produced by my mother and directed by my wife. I hail from a Typical Indian Middle Class Family and icing on toping is that I am a Gujju Baniya.
We Gujjus are god fearing and rule abiding citizens of this world. Our 3 simple rules are:
- Never Use Your Own Money
- If you use, Bargain and negotiate till the time vendor faints
- Now, since you have purchased the product use the product till its core. (Maximum Utilization of Resources)
If Newton is the father of Gravity we Gujju Baniyas are father of recycling. We never dispose any scrap till the time alternate creative usage is not invented and hence we can live without a Bedroom but cannot live without a store room. Though conscious that there is no fuss left in the scrap we manage to sell it to scrap merchants who are mainly Marvaris.
Going by Rule # 3 my father used to carry aluminum bag to his school which was later used by my elder brother and then was handed over to me. After every lectures, I used to pull out that bag which used to create seriously irritating sound which left teachers fuming at me, but eventually is helping me to build lot of social networking friends as they were the kids who used to literally plead me to allow them to play the bag as a drum.
Going by rule # 1, we never used our own money my dad was a frequent traveler and I was under impression that it is dad’s responsibility to buy soaps for our family until one day I exclaimed in front of our relatives hey dad see Sheraton does not make only soaps only it is a hotel too!!
My parents were Government servants so for us stationery shops always seemed like any another planet on the earth!!
As I grew up, I realized necessity of savings – I started preserving yearly wall calendars so that same could be used to cover my kids’ books. On his 1st day at school I creatively covered his books with Alps mountain ranges reflecting as cover page. I received a call from my kid’s school – make your mountains brown…
Being Gujju baniya is a contagious disease. My wife though she is a born Brahmin she is evenly trapped with this typical BEING GUJJU BANIYA syndrome.
Last year when we went to India for summer break she ensured we travelled in cheapest fare – Only trouble we had to shoulder was that our 3 hours journey turned out to be 30 hours journey. We flew by AL Jazeera to Kuwait – Kuwait to Mumbai and then Mumbai to Ahmedabad – but more important we saved 500 bucks!!
Some people have started terming us as Gujju Jugadu baba as we manage to get complimentary mirchi dhaniya from likes of Carefours and Spinneys.
Whenever we visit hotel with complimentary breakfast – my wife ensures she is carrying a HUGE HANDGBAG so that we can dump all the snacks we can for the rest of the day.
My kid has indeed learnt those skills very fast. On being asked in the school what he wishes to become in the future? He replied Recycling expert.
Last week we went to Fusion Restaurant, Karama, again going by Rule # 1, dinner was hosted by my friend After completing our dinner while returning home my kid was holding something in his hand – I inquisitively asked what are you holding champ? Dad I am holding Wet tissues made by Fusion.
- So legacy continues.
Off-late a Chief Minister dared to compared Gujaratis with Donkeys – it was indeed a disheartening and frustrating jibe. As perceived about his illiteracy skill he ensured – he scored a self-goal to it. In fact he should learn that Gujarat is a place of Lions which has produced likes of Gandhiji, Sarar Vallabhai Patel, Dhirubhai and the legacy is there to stay.
My land of Gujarat though has scarce natural resources and has faced several turbulences – neither has been influential diplomatically speaking at central level – still it has managed to spot the most enviable part of the world.
On a serious note, never undermine Gujaratis by their appearance – as when it comes to self-esteem and “Asmita Of Gujarat” they will ensure to reciprocate in the most humiliating manner as some Donkeys have explored only Bollywood world – and perceive it as all about “Baniye Ka Dimag” – they should remember they have more to worry on Gujjubhai ki Daring.
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Article by CA. Falgun B Shah
