Shimla news vendor calls it a day after 58 years

By Baldev S. Chauhan, Shimla, Dec 31: Come rain, snow, or sunshine, you
always found this news vendor selling newspapers and magazines in
downtown Shimla. Now, Bishan Dass Sharma has decided to call it a day -
after 58 years.

Sharma (79), popularly known as Pandit-ji, was a permanent feature on
the bustling Mall. He has decided to hang his boots and return to his
native village in the Himalayan foothills.

"Though Pandit-ji was curt in his manner, he was an ace news vendor and
always delivered what you asked him," said Ramesh Sharma, one of his
many customers.

Pandit-ji's another client said: "He was indeed one of the most
conspicuous figures at the edge of the Gaiety theatre building of the
British Raj era. We will miss him."

There were stories about him being a Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) agent. The stories got credence because no other newsvendor could
start a shop in the vicinity of Pandit-ji in all these years.

"I received a lot of love and affection from the people which I will
always treasure," Sharma told IANS a few days before leaving for his
Mehatpur village in Una district, some 220 km from here.

"It will be difficult to adjust to a new life as I know the art of
selling newspapers and magazines for the last 60 years," he said.

--- IANS
--
Varun Rattan Singh

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