"Having Said That: Number 7: Bicycle Salesman"

I am a salesman; that is what I do for living. Also, I am a philosopher and a comparative analyzer. Last night, as I was driving home after a long day at work, I thought about many little things that criss-crossed my life. Grocery, thanks giving holidays, upcoming Christmas and many other things. In a bizarre twist of events, suddenly I started browsing back to my old times in Kathmandu. For some reason, I wanted to imagine myself being in Nepal. Had I been in Nepal what would I have done? What profession would I have chosen? Would I have been in Sales in Nepal? And if so how hard would that be. I started thinking about some of the best salesman in Nepal. And without the shadow of doubt, the most versatile and effective salesman found in Nepal is not the ones working in big offices, or wearing tie and suit, but rather simple, down to earth and extremely well versed in the field of Sales. I am thinking about no other than the Bicycle Salesman catering to the needs of all the Kathmanduites for their daily necessities like fruits, vegetables, kitchenwares and clothes. They are known as “Madesees”.

The original and traditional farmers and traders of fruits and vegetables in the Kathmandu Valley are the native Newars. Lot of them is still engaged in the professions. In due course of time, with growing immigration of people both from North and South of the Valley, the demand for household fruits and vegetables climbed up tremendously. No longer the natives could supply the growing demand. At the same time, for growing real state demand, the Newari farmers opted for selling their land for hefty lump sum of cash than pursuing further in their hard agriculture profession. So the Valley saw more houses erecting everywhere than carrots growing in the land. Some native farmers who were determined to stick to their traditional profession, soon realized that their method of marketing and selling their products were not very effective. Reason was because they had new competition in town. The southern traders and vegetable sellers known simply as “Madesees” were new force to reckon with.

The word “Madesee” comes from the word “Madesh” which is basically the generic name for whole of Terai Belt. These southern people have dark skin, and they can be easily detected from their outfit, which comprises of “Lungi” or “dhoti” and little head turban. They introduced a novel way of selling fruits and vegetables in the valley. No longer the consumers need to travel in wee hours of the morning to Ason or other designated Farmers’ Market to get vegetables for the day. The “Madesee” way of selling vegetables and fruits was based in mobile store technology. They had their items put in two baskets and tied in the old bicycle, mostly Atlas brand. Madesee Salesman innovated door to door selling of fruits and vegetables. In the beginning, people were not happy with the vegetables grown in the southern part of the country. They preferred the original Kathmandu products. But as time went by and as the persistence of southern salesman took strong consistency, consumers gradually caved in to the convenience and easy access to all these different varieties of fruits and vegetables.

Madesee Salesman thrived very well in the Valley. They made money and that supported their family back in the south. However, the money they made was not easy. They tolerated among other things, discriminations and racial bias. Their customers often treated them very badly. Kids to adults alike harassed them. They got kicked, yelled at and punched every day of their lives. Yet still they always smiled, persisted and thrived. They are true survivors of recent history like Jews in the second world war. Soon, they were covering every corners of the valley. The Kathmanduites got the false sense of superiority by treating these Madesees in such a harassing way, but they prevailed in the battle of torture versus tolerance. And surprisingly, their tolerance is winning over our torture. Newari farmers complained, but that was about all they did. They could not adapt to this new competition. And they are losing the battle. They are selling their land and they are trying to get into new professions with the same attitude and rigidness. In a free market economy, the fittest survives and weaker ones complain. Madesees are the winners.

My life as a Salesman in the US is very similar to life of a Madesee in Kathmandu. I am an immigrant. Much resented and respected by the locals. My tolerance to US abuses is very high. Similar to Madesee’s tolerance to Kathmandu’s mistreats. I am a “Yes” man. I wait for my permanent residency like a Madesee waits for his Nepali citizenship. I am a survivor like a Madesee. I will digest, forget and thrive on all the legal and social hurdles to make money and seek better life for my family and myself.
I am like a Madesee of Kathmandu. I know how it feels to be different from rest of the population. Still I am smart enough to blend in.

Having said that, I have a new respect for our Madesee daju bhai of Kathmandu. They taught me valuable lessons in life. A lesson about tolerance, persistence and will to survive. Forgive me all the Madesees brothers for all the pain I have inflicted against you in the past. I have a new respect for you all and I commend your talent. Now that I know now how it feels to be a Madesee in the US, my bow of respect goes to you all Southern dwellers.
 

Dibesh Karmacharya
New Jersey, USA

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