Gritty, honest and ever smiling

BAHADUR, CAN?T find my shoes?Bahadur, bring tea? Bahadur, who?s at the door? Bahadur, first do this? And every call is answered with a cheery ?Aaya shaabji?.

The ubiquitous ‘Bahadur’ is here to stay

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BAHADUR, CAN’T find my shoes…Bahadur, bring tea… Bahadur, who’s at the door… Bahadur, first do this…

And every call is answered with a cheery ‘Aaya shaabji’. 

Bahadur — the name is  not uncommon in several homes of the city. For people who house them, their day starts and ends with calling out to Bahadur.

Bahadur generally hails from Nepal. However, several from Garhwal and Kumaon range also are part of this community. It’s their honesty and sincerity, which allows people to give them space in their homes. And it’s not just houses that they take care of, but also at several shops and private establishments. Jung Bahadur, from Nepal, works in a sweet shop and looks after his landlord’s home too. Jung says that he landed in Kanpur in search of bread, as jobs are at a premium in his region. 

Shaan Bahadur, a school rickshaw-puller says that he has given up his whole life for this profession. He came to India when he was 37 and for the last 30 years, he is doing the same job. Sharing some of his precious memories, he says all the little ones even touch his feet and this makes him to stay here forever.  A few are also engaged in jobs as night watchmen, only because people trust them implicitly.

Ram Bahadur, a resident of Virat Nagar, Nepal, employed as a night watchman says that in his country, he could not earn a single penny. Now he is working for his family, who is dwelling in his native land.

Meanwhile, on the home front, Shruti Mishra, a resident of Rampuram says that the best thing she likes about them is their honesty. “They serve homes as if it is their home. I cannot think of a day without Bahadur. Now he is a part of my family,” she adds.  

Tanya Saxena, a school teacher, says in her house, Jeet Bahadur, plays a crucial role. “I leave my five-year-old daughter at home and Bahadur looks after her and the home very well,” she says. “The best part about them is that they are hard working and serve with a smile. This is so relaxing,” she adds.

Even the police have no problems with them but their only suggestion to residents is to verify the antecedents of each person before hiring him. A police official also urged people to ensure that the police are informed before they hire them.