CUNCOLIM: At the young age of 14, he embarked on the journey of repairing cycles, and now, 62 years later, at the age of 76, he continues to do what he loves. He is none other than Shaik Ahamad Fakir, more popularly known as Ahamaddi.
Even in his twilight years, he can be found hard at work in his cycle repair shop, located in Cuncolim market along National Highway 66. Remarkably, Ahamaddi has not taken a single day off, whether due to sickness or for leisure.
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Hailing from Payrabandh, Ahamaddi established this shop to provide for his family. He is immensely popular among the locals, known for his jovial nature.
With his brother, Babasahab Fakir, Ahamaddi started this cycle repair shop before Goa’s liberation, at a time when cycles were the most common mode of transport. However, now that the roads are overrun with motor vehicles, he primarily handles tasks like repairing punctured cycle tires and inflating tubes using a manual air pump.
Recalling the days of a bygone era when inflation was not as prevalent, he fondly remembers, “I used to earn Rs 10 or Rs 15 each day, which was more than sufficient for me and my family.”
Now, survival in this trade has become exceedingly challenging, as the younger generation largely avoids using cycles, resulting in a decline in his business.
“In those days, practically everyone owned a cycle, and I managed to provide for my family of six, including myself, my wife, two sons, and two daughters,” he reminisces. His children grew up and found their own paths, but none of them wished to continue his trade or expand the repair shop, and so Ahamaddi began renting out bicycles, as the trend of car rentals had not yet begun.
Back in the day, the two brothers had around 50 bicycles available for rent, charging a mere Rs 1 per cycle per day, or 25 paise for a one-hour rental.
“Nowadays, cycles are mostly only used in gyms for exercise, so my children did not see a future in this,” he explains, adding that one of his sons has ventured into the bus business, while the other works abroad.
Unperturbed by the evolving times, Ahamaddi remains dedicated to his work and continues to uphold his religious beliefs. Many affectionately refer to him as ‘Namazhi’, meaning one who offers ‘namaz’, the Islamic prayers.
Despite his sons’ repeated appeals to retire, Ahamaddi keeps showing up at his shop daily, even if there is little work.
“I’ve gained so much from this shop. My children are now well-settled, and I continue to come here as a tribute to what I’ve achieved through this work,” he remarks.
Recalling the days of the past, he reflects on how his clothes and hands used to get stained with oil, mud, and grease due to his labour. Nevertheless, he takes pride in keeping his heart and soul pure, which he believes has led to his content and fulfilling life.
Ahamaddi enjoys visits from his former clients, who have gone on to achieve significant success in various fields, including medicine, engineering, and business, but still stop by to greet him and reminisce with him. “Their love and respect serve as my greatest reward today, and I am satisfied with that,” the senior citizen quips.
