PESHAWAR: An elderly storekeeper on Islamia College University campus, who has been selling books, stationery and uniforms for the last more than four decades despite high inflation, wants shopkeepers to provide books at subsidised rate to poor students.

Syed Badshah, a resident of Lakki Marwat, not literate himself had determined to set up a book and stationery store some 40 years ago at Islamia College Peshawar (ICP) to help students hailing from lower middle class.

After retirement from army in a lower rank, he took up the job to look after hostels of students at ICP. Soon he observed that book dealers on the campus would charge students exorbitantly for the books, notebooks and uniforms. He walked up to then high officials to allow him to set up a store on the campus where things would be available to poor students at subsidised rates.

Students from in and around the campus swarmed his bookshop to get textbooks, guides and stationery items at such a low price that they tagged Syed Badshah as ‘Arzaan Chacha’ (subsidised uncle). The students passed out three decades ago send out their children to his store where the grey-beard and humble man not only sells out things at low prices but also gifts a pencil or two free of cost to them.

Famous bookseller likes to help poor students

“I have been selling books and student uniforms for the last 40 years. I earn only 10 to 15 per cent profit while other book dealers use fake tag price and charge buyers from 50 to 70 per cent and at times 100 to 150 per cent. It is an utter injustice but nobody seems taking notice of it, surprisingly, students in large number walk up to this store,” said Mr Badshah.

He requested book dealers to reduce prices of at least books and stationery items to enable poor students to get education. “Even 10 to 15 per cent profit is enough to live a humble life with. My rivals have posted my death news on the social media for three times to discourage my poor customers but I don’t care,” he added.

Mr Badshah said that keeping in view his style, sometimes miracles happened as old Islamian publishers dropped books and stationery for selling it out free of cost. He added that last year a few old students from the US and UK donated money to him, asking to use it for poor students.

“Books and stationery at low price could lessen burden on parents by 100 per cent. The relevant officials should take notice of it. Poor parents cannot afford such exorbitant prices. I appeal to buyers not to blindly believe the fake tag prices on the books,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2022