9 years ago, at the age of 74, the famous American boxer Muhammad Ali passed away. He is also remembered by many because of his words 'Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee' which always echo in the boxing ring. Ali often used to say in the ring, 'fly like a butterfly, chill like a bee', for his quick strikes and nimble movements.
However, in the crowded Biratnagar, on a narrow footpath between Bhattachowk and the large mill, there is another 72-year-old Mohammad Ali, who neither flies like a butterfly nor stings like a bee.
He has been standing anonymously in the ring of life in Biratnagar for half a century. He is 'Ali', but he is not a boxer. These Alis are earthlings who have been living in the cold shade and on pavements, relishing the taste of toddy for years. He always has a few white bottles, an empty glass and a couple of jerkins in front of him. They live on the ground. The customers who come to buy toddy speak Nepali, but they hardly speak.
His face looks surprisingly satisfied . 'This sidewalk of Viratnagar is my world', Ali said with a faint smile, 'It has become my life.'
The distance from Biratnagar to Bihar Darbhanga is at most 200 km This road of easy distance that can be repeated in one day is not common for Muhammad Ali . Ali has been passing Darbhanga-Viratnagar 'Vari-Pari' carrying the sweetness of toddy through this road for 50 years .
This story begins 72 years ago. His father Abdul Rashid entered Nepal in search of employment. ``The year I was born, my father went to Nepal,'' Ali remembers, ``so my relationship with Nepal is very old . I love Nepal a lot.' Nepal is his karmabhoomi, where he has sweated for years and turned the wheel of life.
Rashid's in-laws were in border Jogbani . His father-in-law has called him for work at the jute mill in Biratnagar. There was no factory in Darbhanga, no industry. Due to the lack of employment, he agreed in one word and got in a car and went down to Jogbani.
After staying at the in-laws' host for a few days, Rasheed joined a jute mill . But he did not like the hot air of the jute mill. Hard work, fatigue and narrow working life . That's why he quit his job soon. Then he opted for a free life mixing with the cool juice of toddy .
'Father started selling toddy through a friend who worked in a jute mill', Ali remembers, 'There were many toddy trees in Hattimudha and other areas. The income from selling toddy there used to be sent home . We used to live with that money.' Ali could not read much. Life led to the compulsion to earn before studying .
He was about 20 years old, one day suddenly news came from Nepal that his father Rashid was seriously ill. Someone had sent to call . Ali ran to Biratnagar without thinking. It was found that Rashid fell from a toddy tree and was seriously injured. The body was recovered, and the sale of toddy came to a halt .
Then Ali took on the responsibility of the father . Gradually the father recovered, and father and son together started selling toddy. But selling toddy was not easy. Once a furnace shop in Biratnagar filed a case in court against the receipt. The charge was, 'Drinking customers in toddy.' However, Ali and Rashid's toddy business was not going to stop. "Father took the license after Sahuji sued that the liquor business was ruined due to toddy", Ali remembers, "He used to give license to sell toddy too."
Toddy is a kind of natural drink. Which comes out of toddy or palm trees . This sap is collected by piercing the part near the base of the tree . Fresh toddy is sweet, slightly sour and nutritious. Toddy is very popular especially in Terai districts, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and South India. Doctors also claim that drinking fresh toddy in summer is very beneficial for health.
Even after the death of Rashid, Ali continued the business alone. Toddy is available throughout the year, but its demand is higher in the summer season. He narrates his experience, 'It doesn't sell much in cold, it sells in summer.' Earlier, he used to sell toddy for one rupee per liter, now that price has reached up to one hundred rupees.
In a season, he earns around 50-60 thousand rupees, deducting expenses. Year-old customers still throng this footpath to taste the toddy . "Earlier, they used to come by bicycle, now most of them come by car," he says with a laugh, "I sell toddy on the road, my customers on the car." They come to Nepal in summer, run the toddy business. They return to Darbhanga with the start of the farming season. "I never thought of building a house and staying in Nepal", he proudly says, "Nepal is my homeland, I don't want to leave my motherland". For Ali, Biratnagar is like the 'Gulf' of our youth . ``As long as I can, I will come to Nepal and sell toddy,'' he said, mixing in half Hindi, ``If I can't, the day will come.'' Where there is a resolve to sell toddy as long as the breath remains . He has a passion to share the sweetness of life along with the taste of toddy.
