Wati Kichu at his stall in Mokokchung town.
Journey from porter to eatery owner
Morung Express Feature
Mokokchung | September 7
He is dignity of labor personified. 28-old Wati Kichu of Mokokchung village has what it takes to become a successful person. He is the owner of a small fast-food joint, in the heart of Mokokchung town, that opens in the evening hours when all the shops in the town close. He started running the business from November 2009, with an investment of Rs 10,000 earned through hours of hard labor and sweat as a porter.
A glimpse into the life of this young enterprising man reveals a character that despite all odds he rose above the ordinary, and earned the respect of all citizens.
From a graduate to Porter
Speaking with The Morung Express, Wati Kichu disclosed that he came from ‘a not so well to do family.’ He started working as a ‘Mutthia’ (local porter) in Mokokchung earning daily wages from the year 1999 to 2002. With the amount earned by working as a porter, Wati Kichu went down to Dimapur to study his higher course. He did enroll in Salt Christian College and graduated in the year 2007. During his stay in Dimapur, Kichu worked as a part-time sales-man in a marketing company and did door-to-door sales.
It was during his stay in Dimapur that Kichu got the idea of a fast-food joint, after watching non-locals peddling food stuff on hand-driven carts. But he had no capital to invest. So, after coming back to Mokokchung, he again worked as a porter till the year 2008 and could save Rs 10,000. It was his entire capital investment. A friend helped him construct the cart. Two close friends – Amongla (a graduate) and Arron (a social worker working in an NGO) – came forward to help him run the fast-food ‘joint.’ It finally opened to the public on November 9, 2009.
From Porter to successful eatery owner
The best part: Mokokchung town usually closes by 4 pm, and the town goes deserted after that. Not anymore. People, especially youngsters, stop by Kichu’s stall to have a bite of egg-rolls, omelets or sandwiches, till 8 to 9 pm. “I got the idea because I wanted to make the town more lively in the evening,” says enterprising Wati Kichu.
He named his stall “Rali-Wali” (“Rali” means ‘Coming’ and “Wali” means ‘Going’; metaphorically, a traveler); quite appropriate, because his stall has cycle wheels, which move Kichu’s trade easily from one point to another. But his main spot is in a corner near the main police point in the town. “On an average I get around 30-40 customers a night, sometimes it is higher,” says Kichu. “I have recovered my investment long time back.” His two friends have been supporting him right from the start, helping him prepare the food and cater to hungry customers. “They (Among and Arron) give me courage…and moral support. I really appreciate their great help,” Wati says of his two helpful friends.
‘Never felt ashamed of what work I did’
Sharing his inspiration, Kichu advises that one should have ‘dignity of labor’ and should actually ‘do things’ instead of depending on “government jobs.” The government alone cannot provide jobs, he reminded, to all educated unemployed youths, estimated to be more than 50,000.
He had appeared for the NPSC exams in the past, with no success. He has no complaints. “We should not feel ashamed to do hard work, we should have dignity of labour,” he asserts, “The deepest satisfaction I have now is that, earlier I used to ask my parents for money to give offering to the church. Now I am giving the offering from my own pocket, from my own earning.”
For the Mokokchung public, the ‘Rali-Wali fast food joint’ is another welcome development. Earlier, people simply used to stay at home or at friends’, now they can roam around the stall relishing the food and enjoy the peaceful nightlife of the town. Wati Kichu asserts that there has not been a single incident of trouble so far. This, he says, is not due to the security personnel in the town, but simply because the people of Mokokchung have now become “civilized” and do not indulge in ‘unnecessary fights’.
“Sometimes, some people come to my stalls after drinking alcohol, but they have never created any trouble. They just eat the food, pay for it and leave peacefully,” he says.
Inspiring change
Fazl Ali College lecturer Akok Walling, while speaking at a programme in Kohima told the Kohima Ao Gazetted Officers’ Telongjem, the words told to him by officials of Mokokchung district administration regarding the young entrepreneur. “Even some of the district administration officials told me that his stall is the clearest sign to the other people that Mokokchung is a peaceful place,” Akok Walling told Kohima Ao officers recently.
Even so, Wati Kichu has plans to expand his small business. A few days back, he has extended his stall to provide more food items. People tell him to provide tea also. He provides tea during the winter season. Recently he has taken a loan and bought a Maruti Van; he plans to convert the van into a “mobile restaurant” in the town. People out here believe that his venture will be a success, simply because of his sheer determination and hard work.
Nonetheless, looking at the life of Wati Kichu one can come to a clear understanding that while thousands of youths might complain about the lack of “employment” opportunities or avenues in the Naga society, one prominent truth comes to light – it is not the lack of employment opportunities but simply lack of courage and enterprise, and most importantly, dignity of labour – probably the biggest cause of “unemployment” in Nagaland.
