Household Essentials 1940's - delivered at doorstep

Household Essentials were made available at door steps – 1940’s Basti Danishmandan, Jalandhar:

Before partition of India; Hawkers carrying vegetables, fruit, fabrics, kerosene, and meat etc. would walk around in streets selling their stuff.

Jugglers visited localities to perform for children.

There were hand-chakkies (wheat and pulses grinding wheels) used in houses. Grinding wheel sharpening experts were going street to street announcing their services and did the job then and there.

Experts for nickeling brass and copper utensils and their repairs used to come off and on to do the job. Children used to inform mothers of his arrival and brought their utensils to him. They were going street to street.

There were sellers of fabrics and bedding sheets traveling on bikes, street to street, announcing their arrival and ladies would buy their needs.

Like others, vegetable and meat sellers, and also kerosene sellers used to come to streets each week.

A Unique Service:

I remember a businessman "Khushia Mal?" used to visit us and others in the last week of the month, and make a list of food stuff needed; deliver it; naturally for a profit, and he was paid on pay day or a day after. Food quality and quantity were as good as required.

After partition; there may be others also, but in Lahore, Pakistan some general stores in Tolinton Market and at Akbari gate offered to bag up stuff you order by phone and ready to be picked up at any time.

My email: sheikhmsarwar@gmail.com