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Unique 2-in-1 style of Mr Ashok Ram,
The Paan Seller

In every district the life around Kutchery is very interesting as I have mentioned in the last blog, but there are some vendors who are unique and and you will not find similar character in other places. Mr Ashok Ram the "Paan" seller is exactly such a unique person whose look alike is hard to find. Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is in the neighborhood of Ranchi Kutchery. Just outside the boundary of RMC is Mr Ram's shop. He knows well how to attract the attentions of passersby and for this he has taken a bold step of keeping himself and his things in two contrasting styles at the same time i.e. half portion is just opposite in style to the other half. He has one color for right leg of pant while other for left leg. Same is for the shirt. Most daring is the style of his mustache and beard because it is only half on the right side while on the left it is clean.

Mr Ashok Ram on his 2-in-1 scooter and his shop

Even his old scooter has different colors on each half. Whoever sees him, can not remain without smiling and everyone notices him. It is a strong attraction of attention which is the motto of his advertisement. He has another shop at Vardhman Compound, Ranchi and he mentions it in a banner hung in front of his shop. Even his banner is unique. On it is God Shiva in the "Ardhanarishwar-अर्धनारीश्वर" form to support Mr Ram's style because "Ardhanarishwar" is half Shiva on the right side and half Parvati on the left side i.e. half male - half female. Beside God "Ardhnarishwar" is his own photo in his unique style. Then there are different slogans, one of which says,

"पान है मर्दों की शान /

गुटखा करता है माता, बहनों और बच्चों को नुकसान /

यही है 2-इन-1 का ऐलान"

(Paan (betel leaf) is style of a man while Gutkha harms ladies and children, thus declares 2-in-1)
There is also a 2-in-1 dog in the banner sitting on a 2-in-1 scooter in the banner. Due to two colors of the dog its name is Chhotu the 'Duranga' (दुरंगा) . Below it is a slogan visibly said by the dog as follows:-

"हम हैं छोटू दुरंगा /

हम नहीं पहनते अंगा"

(I am Chhotu the Duranga, I do not wear clothes)

Visiting card of Mr Ashok Ram

And then there is Mr Ashok Ram's stunt picture on it in which he is riding in his 2-in-1 style clothes on five 2-in-1 scooters. He has even printed his mobile number on it. The whole picture of the banner has been printed on his visiting cards which he happily gave us when we visited his shop. I snapped a pic of his shop and asked to pose for his pic. He posed smiling for the picture.
Mr Ram is an interesting and unique person around the Ranchi Kutchery.

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