RAMLAN: 50 YEARS OF MANUFACTURING AND SELLING TOOTH POWDER ALL ALONE
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| Ramlan, ‘Kailas Laboratories’, Kuttiyan Vilakam, Edava, Alappuzha |
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His pleasing manners and his product, both enhance one’s smile. Septuagenarian Ramlan is in the business of manufacturing tooth powder and marketing it all alone.
His
wife Saleena, daughters Raziya and Seena and son Mohammed Sameer prepare
and packet the ayurvedic tooth powder, ‘Kailas’.
He then goes by foot selling the product.
His
tooth powder manufacturing started in June 1955 while he was employed as a
peon in the Muslim High School, Edava.
As the school authorities frowned upon his business, he had to say
good-bye to the job.
With
the previous day’s produce in his bag, he walks up to 20 km everyday
selling his home-made mixture. Earlier
he used to have a conical tin sheet to make announcement while walking.
Now he employs a megaphone gifted by an acquaintance employed in
the Gulf.
Every
year he celebrates the anniversary of ‘Kailas Laboratories’.
Political and social functionaries grace these functions.
And many organizations have honoured him for his one-man effort of
5 decades.
A
man of humility and pleasing mien, he had the opportunity to appear as a
megaphone-wielding tooth powder-seller in Balachandra Menon’s film, ‘Samantharangal’.
Menon had recognized the ex-peon of his alma mater while shooting
at Edava.
Courtesy: G.Badarinath, Malayala Manorama, October 26, 2002
Contributed by: Administrator
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