By Lanes of Gulbai Tekra

The maze-like structures and the by lanes of Gulbai Tekra, famously know as ‘Hollywood’, have many untold stories. One of them is unfolded here by Zalak Trivedi as she gives her first-hand experience of meeting adolescent Mahesh Parmar, a designer-cum-tailor.

Photographs: Zalak Trivedi.

At around 6 in the evening, the whole world seems to be rushing… birds to their nests, Sun to the West and people like me to their homes! The road through Gulbai tekra has always been a comfort route for me as I could reach home without getting stuck at any traffic signals. Every time when I cross that small slum patch, I always wonder about the people living there. Their magnificent and colorful dresses always attract me. During Navratri, this place has been the most sought after destination by most of my friends. The exotic chaniya choli and gharena (jewellery) for the season is ‘imported’ by most of the youngsters from here.

Recently, for one of the garba functions, even I thought of renting some jewellery from the slum women. So while going back home, I mustered my courage and walked up to a group of men standing near Jogni mata’s mandir. A medium-built, dark-complexioned man, with scary eyes, walked up to me and smiled. Kanubhai volunteered to be my guide and took me inside the maze-like streets of the slum. The experience was a thrilling eye-opener.

The by lanes, were hardly enough for one person to pass. Groups of women, decked up with gold and silver accessories were packing chopped chicken. As we went deeper, the lanes got narrower and darker with tin roofs overshadowing them, and the place became gloomier. Then I saw a small bulb hanging at a distance, lighting up our path and my heart. A small boy, about 14 years old was working under the electric bulb. He was sewing something on his machine. It seemed like the sound of the machine was music to his ears. He was enjoying his work so much that he hardly noticed my presence.

“I am Mahesh Chamanbhai Parmar, a local tailor”, was how he introduced himself. On further inquiry I came to know that he was studying in the 9^th STD of a government school in Mithakhali. His mother proudly said, “He always comes first in his class.” Being a first time customer, he showed me his latest creations. His eyes were shining bright as he talked about those dresses. His aunt had taught him the art of sewing this kind of traditional dresses when he was in 5^th STD. Since then he has been making dresses for all the women in the slum.

His popularity increased over the period of time. During Navratri, he is famous with all the young girls for chaniya choli. Kanubhai said, “He makes the dresses as demanded by the girls and they all are very happy with his work as they keep coming here year after year.” I wondered from where he gets to know about the latest fashion trend! To which he revealed his secret. He stitches the dress according to the designs showed by these girls and picks it on. He mixes traditional style with the design showed by the girls. One more reason of his popularity is that he charges only Rs.100 per chaniya choli, making him the most affordable in the area. He is expert in making kalivala ghaghra, katori cut cholies, rabari choli, and special bridal dress of his community.

On asking him about what he wants to do in future, he gave a startling reply. He said, “There is some college in Paldi area, where they teach you how to stitch clothes apart from chaniya choli. I want to go there and learn stitching different types of dresses in that college.” It took me sometime to understand that he was talking about the National Institute of Design! He told me that there are many students from NID who visit him for chaniya cholis and thus he came to know about this college.

After finishing my work he came all the way to Jogini mata’s mandir, to see me off. With a face brightening smile, he said, “I want to study further but my family might not be supportive for it, but in future if I ever learn to make other kinds of dresses, than I will make a nice dress for you.” I kept on thinking about him on my way back home. Dreams are dreams; they fill your eyes irrespective of your social status. This is the power of fashion; a small guy from slum area wants to study in the most reputed fashion institute of the nation just for the sake of enhancing his skills and learning something new. It will be one of the most exciting days of my life when I will see Mahesh from Gulbai Tekra walking inside NID!