ABDUL Nizam Jaleen is a shop owner and is well-known in Aurora Estate, Essequibo Coast, since his house and business are conveniently located on the public road.

The shop was the brainchild of his parents who established the business 50 years ago and when they passed away, in 1990, he took over the operation.

The shop, which is housed in the lower flat of the two-storey house, has in stock groceries, beverages, clothing, hardware and just about every little thing that is needed for the home.

The 56-year-old shopkeeper has been trying his best to ensure the shop is fully stocked and has been doing that for the past 24 years.

The prices are pocket-friendly making it very affordable for the villagers to shop.

“I used to live in the city, so I know about the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the bright lights, but here it is different. It is quite the opposite, quiet and in slow-motion but safe and ideal for a rural lifestyle,” he said.

Jaleen told the Pepperpot Magazine that growing up in Aurora Estate as a child was hard because they had very little in those days.

But life was nice, he said. It was less worrisome and they did not have to worry about certain things.

The shop owner related that his parents were hard workers who toiled in the backdam to provide adequately for them and, through their hard work, a solid foundation was set for them.

Jaleen added that he recalled as a child in that village, life was happy since the people were nicer and they shared meals of whatever little they had but today that is not so.

“Some people became fabulously rich, and things have changed. It is not like before when I was a child and much younger, still I prefer those days than these days,” he said.

He stated that times have changed, and now things are very modern, making it a vast difference in the way we live as it relates to yesteryear.

Jaleen reported that in Aurora Estate, most of the people are related and they are of mixed ethnicities, but they co-exist regardless of what is happening in the country.

“The other day I took ill suddenly, and a brother of the Muslim community took me to the hospital and stayed there with me for eight hours so the people are not selfish, and we look out for each other around here,” he said.

Jaleen added that the village is a nice place and the landmark is the chimney that is still standing which is from the olden days when the community was a sugar estate and indentured labourers occupied the land then.

The father of one has one grandchild. He stated that his wife would also assist in managing the shop and do all the chores, and he was grateful for the assistance.

Abdul Jaleen
Meanwhile, in the same village lives Abdul Jaleen, a Muslim brother, who is well-respected among his peers and the Muslim community.

The 56-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he grew up in Aurora Estate and began farming with his parents at a young age when bulls were used to plough the fields, horns were utilised to cut the rice, and they had to bag the rice manually.

He remembered in those days, hard labour was the hallmark of living and it entailed long hours in the rice fields to yield a good crop, unlike now, heavy-duty equipment made it easier and less labour is involved.

Jaleen disclosed that he has 10 siblings and his parents had to work very hard to make ends meet. With such a large family, things weren’t always good, but they never went hungry.

The father of two related that his parents did a whole lot to make them happy by providing a good life for them. As a result, they all made something of themselves.

To date, Jaleen is not willing to give up the legacy his parents left behind and is still planting rice and rearing cattle.

He used to work with people for 10 years, but as he became advanced in age, he did not wish to work with anyone and became self-employed.

Jaleen has two grandchildren to spoil and these days, he has some more time with the family.