SURTI N.R.I.’S CHRISTMAS WISHLIST.............
Last week, I received the Louis Vuitton Christmas newsletter. It gave a sneak peek into their fabulous new collection of the finest leather goods, against the beautiful backdrop of Paris while Sean Connery has done a three series shoot in the Bahamas to market their exclusive products. The letter suggests LV customers to prepare a Christmas wish list.
I wonder what our N.R.I.Surti brothers and sisters are preparing as their Christmas wish list this year. As we all know, every year the Surtis from America and U.K come home for shopping during winter holidays. For stuff silly, not spouses or new teeth!
The cash crunch due to cost cutting has unfortunately seen a recession in visiting N.R.I’s as well. So the poor little rich Surtis are calling up relatives back home to courier their goodies this year. Here is a list of what’s high in demand this season.
T.V. serial inspired Surti embroidered sarees. Sourced from Bombay market and Chautapul, synthetic sarees in multi coloured combination with a network of dazzling salma sitara work. Matched with satin petticoats and stringy backless blouses tailored by a ‘designer’ down the road. Embroidered ,net sarees with brocade petticoats, Parsi resham work and ready to wear chaniya choli styled sequinned sarees are hot cakes for N.R.I’s,this season.

2 gram gold jewellery; which is replicated to look like flashy, real stuff. Heavy chokers teamed with chunky dangler’s and bangles .Set with multicoloured stones to match sarees above. The rising costs have made this option very popular with the ladies who follow new trends. ’Balika vadhu’ style kangans, rhodium polish diamond sets, kundan jewellery, Victorian designs are on the N.R.G wish list.

Papads flavoured with garlic, jeera, dhamta etc. The most amazing ones are made by Jalaram in a little known village near Bardoli -Khoj. Besides papads, tea, dry mango chiriyas, fenugreek and sundried Ponk is also high in demand, as are pickles. Spices, and the popular good quality ‘ras ni hing’-the asafoetida that is the dry powdered resin from tree bark is highly sought after.Charoli,kalonji,shahjeeru is tucked into little zipper pouches as add ons,to balance out the parcel weight.
The process of couriering these goodies is also an art. Since the regular parcel service would cost a bomb, many small time courier services have sprung up in Surat, often run from home, which tie up with the bigger fish and provide cheap service for the local crowd. Goods reach within 4 days to the recipient and everyone is happy. Once the sender delivers the paraphernalia to the couriers; goodies are neatly packed in thick polythene and weighed, then further packed into a larger carton and sent off.
So, dear Surtis, if this season you do not see many hapless husbands carrying shopping bags around the town markets while they obediently follow the Mrs., you know that it’s because most N.R.I’s have shopped through a wish list this year.
Never mind if our marketing strategy is not as stylish as LV, never mind if we do not have any marketing strategy, whether it’s Christmas or Diwali, for N.R.G.’s East or West, Surat is the best!
TAPI TOWN TATTLE-What did President Bush turn into when he was shoed in Iraq? A sitting duck!