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Delhi’s elusive street artist.
[Text by Mayank Austen Soofi; the photographer does not wish to be identified]
In a commercial district like Nehru Place where people flaunt books like Microsoft Windows for Dummies, I know a chain-smoking, chai-guzzling guy who recites James Joyce.
The bookseller of Nehru Place, let’s call him Kareem, lords over a dusty pile of second hand books. For a few years, I was a part of his evening durbar. Methinks he was not fond of me (declining as I did his offer of cigarettes) and would tolerate my presence as long as his friends didn’t turn up. Once they arrived, a gang of artists, poets, smokers, dope fiends et al, I would be ignored. It would hurt but I learnt to live with it. For Kareem’s books and Kareem’s company were my precious ‘getaways’ from this city.
Those were days when I was working in Kailash Colony, not far from Nehru Place.
My daily grind over, I would catch the bus to Park Hotel, jostle through the evening crowds at Nehru Place, and walk fast, faster, almost running till I reached the adda. There — the books; and there sitting on a chair – dear old Kareem, surrounded by stray dogs and paperbacks.
I often found him sketching a portrait of passers-by on the back cover of a random book. He would hardly notice my arrival. I too would pretend to ignore him and busy myself with browsing. Afterwards, one hand waving the books and the other resting on the hip, I would bargain like a fishwife. Kareem, still sketching, would howl — 35 rupees. I would howl back — 30 rupees.
Once the payment done, graciousness would return and Kareem would offer chair, chai and lectures on Matisse.
Looking back, I wonder if it was that highbrow bak-chodhi that made Kareem so seductive. There was hardly anything else to recommend him. He forever looked unwashed, ragged, not really handsome and yet women were attracted and seduced by him.
I saw beautiful girls spending long hours with this bearded, wrinkled bookseller, old enough to be their father’s age. Kareem himself told me stories of how so-and-so from Sweden or Spain or Germany or Portugal came to India, fell in love with him and how he broke her heart. The brute.
One day Kareem broke my heart, too. He said you owe me money. No I don’t, I shot back. He threatened to turn his guys loose on me. Scared, I haven’t stepped foot in Nehru Place since then.
A few months ago, in August, 2008, a writer friend went to meet him. Kareem painted a quite lovely picture of her, while she did a little charcoal sketch of him. Declining to be profiled, he protested he wasn’t a “freak, or a performing monkey”. So, she didn’t write about him. Good girl.
Maybe I don’t have the same integrity. Sorry, Kareem.
Kareem’s strokes
Well written.Many of the booksellers have their minds bent to the other side.YK
A meaningless post with no point. I am not sure if you made Kareem a hero or an anti-hero.
What a wonderful blog! Makes you fall in love with Delhi again even when you have moved away swearing to hate it.And the delicious ironies of life someone who calls himself (herself??) Pink Floyd finds the post meaningless.Isn’t life delightful despite everything?
I know Karim; known him for decades actually from my weekly trips to nehru place for my work. I have gone thru nearly the same experience as you describe and have many a story to tell about him.It was very nostalgic to read it here.P.S: I sometimes think points have no points!
kareem has moved up in life now. he just opened himself a gallery in Noida sector 18. its called Stupa 18. its near HSBC bank there. i checked i out the other day and i was blown away. but kareem is still the same with his cigarettes and tea. anyways if anyone does visit it.. please post your comments here
r u sure dat he has left nehru place and moved to noida?
Yes.. I have been to Stupa 18 Gallery, Sector 18, Noida, but could not find Kareem there. However, the gallery is running a group show of fabulous paintings which also includes Kareem’s works. I found the works to be pretty good…
Kareem is still there at Nehru place, and he sure does leave a first impression. The Rs.35 a book is still there, i got two last month and he still enquires if one has a liking for art.
Kareem is beyond the obvious… and so are his paintings .. He is now gonna have his solo show in Stupa 18 Gallery, Noida, with a full bang !!! It is in April 2010. I say … All the best Kareem !!