TYPES OF PEOPLE IN CRAWFORD MARKET

ANURAG MAHESHWARI, ALEFIYAH LAKDAWALA

INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR

PRARTHANA PATIL

NOVEMBER 24TH 2016

Mahatma Jyotibai Phule Market is a wholesale and retail market in South Mumbai. The market

was built by the Britishers initially to be a fruit and vegetable market. They named it after Arthur

Crawford, the first Municipal commissioner of the city. The structure was designed by William

Emerson in Norman and Flemish style architecture.

The crowd at Crawford market is an amalgamation of different kind people. Everyone there has a

unique attitude and perception towards one another. This difference in attitude was magnified in

our case. We didn’t solve their purpose of sale. Hence there was great contrast in the way they

reciprocated to our questions. There were two striking conversations- one that happened between

us & Rahul, worker at shop nos-288 & 289 and the other was with Abbas, owner of shop no 455.

The interview with Rahul-

“For how long have you been in

this market?

“I have been working here for 6

months. Before that, I don’t know”.

At this point, the shop owner called

out from the shop, “Please come

later we have no time, we have to

work”.

“Please can you help me by telling me how old is your shop approximately? It will help me in

my college assignment.”

“No.”

“Do you think you are facing any issues over here in the market?”

“No.”

“So what do you think is the main advantage to set up over here in this market?”

“What? I didn’t get you.”

“I mean the plus points. What do you think is the difference setting up a new shop on a road or in

a mall and over here?”

He started to sound annoyed. “Nothing.”

“Oh okay, do you have any seasonal products?”

“No I don’t have.”

“Oh! Okay Rahul, thank you so much for helping me.”

“Yes okay.”

Conversation with Abbas.

“So for how long have you been

in Crawford?”

“16 years.”

“Do you face any difficulties

over here?”

“No, we don’t face any

difficulties over here.”

We then asked about each

specific difficulty. “Is the broken

roof a problem, especially during

the monsoon season?”

“Yes, everyone faces that

problem.”

“What inconveniences did you face during your setup in the market?”

“Electricity issues. No light.”

“So how do you cope up with the ever increasing competition in this market?”

“We decrease the rates.”

“And what are the consequences of that?”

“Margin decreases, nothing else.”

“But you still make profits right?”

“Yes we do make a minimal profit.”

“You have been in this market for so long. You have more experience compared to the others.

Do you think you have an upper hand, in terms of facing the competition?”

“The age of the shop doesn’t matter. The sale depends upon the quality.”

“How much of a difference does the quality make?”

“The better the quality, the more successful the shop.”

“What is the biggest difficulty you are facing currently?”

“Market timings.”

“So what are the current timings?”

“9am to 9pm.”

(Teasingly) “And what time do you prefer?

“11am to 8pm.”

(Laughing) “So you would like a couple more hours of sleep?”

He laughs with us. We resume the conversation again.

“So do you keep any seasonal product?”

He denies politely. “No sorry, we don’t keep any seasonal product”

“Okay. Thanks a lot.” We shake hands.

“Thank you.”

In conclusion, the two people, Rahul and Abbas, gave different answers to the same type of

questions asked by same people about the same place. The genuineness in their answers and their

overall behavior towards us varied greatly. This difference showed their mindsets and general

thinking towards people. It showed how their different backgrounds and opinions about people

reflect in their interactions. Hence the market is an exhibition of personalities.