A Trader's perspective

Lashkar (Baade) market is in the heart of Gwalior city. Being Sunday, market was brimmed with pre-festival crowds with people from the outskirts and cantonment areas of the city. Brisk business activity in shops decorated with colour lights and illuminations, dwellers with variety of items were occupied in pavements. Eateries selling hot samosas, Pani puri, kababs and colourful drinks have added to a Mela atmosphere. Dogs and cattle without fear crisscrossed amongst the crowd. Pickpocketeers and urchins have a field day unnoticed. Party volunteers and other agencies and law protectors were also busy, collecting their ‘hafta’ as a right.

As Lokesh Bhai of Umang Textiles canvassed from the storefront, he noticed two people approaching his store, giving him a half-smile. He courteously invited them into the shop.

‘ Do you have Baniyans?', asked the lanky first person.

‘ Yes sir, and showed them a famous brand. ‘ Sir, this is of the best quality, and your size is 36 inches.’

He was searching for the label, Lokesh Bhai thought and asserted it as‘Turtle’ brand and of ‘36’ inches. The visitor took a card from his pocket, which displayed him as an Inspector from the Weights and Measures, never even in the dreams expected by Lokesh Bhai.

‘What happened, sir?

‘ Don’t you know that the measurement rule has been changed to show in ‘centimetres’ and not ‘Inches'? When shall it be enforced if it goes like this in the  country? Are you not aware of the law”.

‘Sir, it’s mentioned there in small...’ Moreover, is it not the company responsible for the label’?

‘ Shut up; you will argue and teach me? Shouted the Inspector.

' Sorry sir, I’m a small trader and illiterate, so clearing a doubt, sir.’ Lokesh Bhai closed his mouth with his hands.

The Inspector took the challan book, scribbled something and asked to bind the whole bundle.

‘Sir, sir, please, I am a small trader,” pleaded.He was sweating and took a towel and freshened himself, keeping an eye on him for the next word.

‘ Now small, and like this has become big’, Inspector extended the Challan to him. The other person came from behind and murmured in Lokesh Bhai’s ears not to accept the challan, come what may.

Lokesh whispered back 'Do you think I am mad? What are you in W&M?’

Before waiting for his reply, he packed two more 36" Turtle Baniyans, folded in Shops’ cover, and with a broad smile gave Inspector. Without turning back, he collected the package and moved to Lallan Singh's next shop.

‘ I am Chaprasi ( Peon ) to Sir. You only give me two 32’’ briefs”, Peon said.

Infuriated, Lokesh Bhai abruptly ordered him to hurry to his boss. The peon then left after threatening to see him in court sooner in a louder voice.

The incident was eventually forgotten. Three months after the incident, Lokesh Bhai was surprised to receive a court notice requiring him to appear in Moti mahal Sessions Court on the Challan issue within twenty days of the notice date. After morning prayers, he hurried to the court on the appointed day.

Lokesh Bhai managed to stand in front of the judge in the box when his call came, even though the courtroom was packed.

 When the judge asked him to give his version of events, he asked him directly, "My lord, are you wearing a banian?"

 The court burst out laughing.

 The advocate from the petitioner interrupted to question the trader. On the other hand, the respondent asked if he also wore a banian. "Yes." What is wrong with you? 

To the security officer positioned beside the judge, Lokesh Bhai loudly posed the same query. He gave the same response as well.

Looking at the Judge he said:" When a customer requests it, I will only give them 36", not 90.

 As his interest in the scene grew, the judge also checked his Baniyan size in between.

Lokesh Bhai then stated, "I was given a challan for displaying a 36-inch banian that the company had labelled." I will only give 36 when a customer asks for it, not 90. You have confirmed that the banyan worn is in inches, my lord, after seeing the Advocate and Security. I want to know if there is a court justice system in place or I received an unfair treatment for no fault of mine".

"So where is the Inspector who issued the challan?" the judge inquired.

"My lord," said Lokesh Bhai, "he got away after obtaining two additional sets of 36" from me and was never seen again, but his peon is present here."

The judge rendered the following decision after hearing the entire story in detail:

"Until additional investigation is conducted, the issued challan will not be enforced and will be considered, cancelled. Future sales of Lokesh Bhai's products under inches are permitted at Umang Textiles.

The judge smiled and glanced at Lokesh Bhai to see if he was happy.

 The trader then said, "No, my lord," to the judge. "Although the peon has taken two 32-inch briefs, he has not paid for them".

The judge instructed him to leave the courtroom and promised to settle the amount with him shortly.

Neither the judge, the advocate, nor the security could track down the peon in the courtrooms.

Lokesh Bhai continues to serve the community as before with excellence.

Later on, it was reported that the peon's unpaid debt was never recouped!

    ---------------------------------------

(Credits : Col. KR Mani, EKLM  for the subject, freely adapted to this story.)

The metric system in weights and measures was adopted by the Parliament in December 1956 with the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, which took effect beginning 1 October 1958.