Portrait of a citizen.

[Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi]

It is 10pm. The venerable Ata Ul, a labourer, has already installed the mosquito net over his regular sleeping spot. He always sleeps in this central Delhi market, right outside a shop that gets shuttered by this hour. Sitting cross-legged, the soft-spoken gent graciously agrees to become a part of our Proust Questionnaire series, in which citizens are nudged to make “Parisian parlour confessions”, all to explore our distinct experiences.

Your favourite virtue.
The life I lead.

Your main fault.
Smoking beedi.

Your favourite occupation.
I’m a mazdoor insaan. I like whatever work I manage to get as a labourer. Never say no to any work. Very often I do packaging assignments in the morning, after which I start the day as a rickshaw puller.

What do you appreciate the most in your friends?
Their children should give me respect.

Your idea of happiness.
My happiness was with my wife. Haseena Khatoon passed away last year in May, at our home in the village. She was reeling under fever, we had got her medicines, but…

Your heroes in real life.
My pitaji, Muhammed Natho. My father was a farmer. He taught me everything about farming—ploughing, irrigating, everything… I still do farming when I go back to the village, which is every now and then.

The natural talent you’d like to be gifted with.
I want God to give more strength to my body, so that I could remain healthy, and continue to work and earn for some more time. This is especially important because I’m no longer young. I’m 63.

What is your present state of mind?
I’m thinking I must earn and save enough money to ease the future of my son, and also of his young son.

Your favorite bird.
Peacock.

Where would you like to live?
I’m in Delhi, so right now I like living here. When I’m in my village Dholi Mahanpur in Bihar’s zila Saharsa, then I like living there. Ultimately, I’ll go back to my village. It is my janam-bhoomi. I was born there, I’ll like to die there.