After Brazil loss, life goes back to normal for Kasba ghugni seller

Kolkata: For a Kasba ghugni seller, who had gone viral for offering a special deal on his snacks on Brazil match days, life returns to normal from Saturday following the five-time champion’s loss to Croatia as the ardent Brazil fan says he can now focus on his business and stop suffering any more losses.
Sukumar Halder, one of the many crazy fans of the Canarinha — little canaries as the Brazilian team is affectionately known owing to their bright yellow team jersey — had become a social media sensation over the past two weeks for his decked up shop in front of Kasba police station decorated with Brazil flags and posters of Neymar, Thiago Silva and Vinicius Junior and a special “Brazilian offer” where he offered one plate of ghugni — a tangy and spicy snack made of yellow peas — or aloo dum free with two plates of snacks on Brazil’s match days.
“It had been a crazy three weeks when I used to start business early and wrap up my sales by 8.30pm and rush to the club to watch World Cup matches and follow Brazil’s games with extra attention. Friday was no different. But with Brazil going out of the contest, now I can focus back on my business. I will still follow the World Cup and the decorations will remain, but the offer isn’t there from Saturday,” said Halder (45), who had been selling ghugni on Rasbehari Avenue connector for the past 12 years.
A self-proclaimed Brazilian football fanatic Halder swears by Neymar and worships Thiago Silva. He carries a photograph of Ronaldo (Brazil’s) in his purse and wears a Brazil jersey during business throughout the World Cup tournament. And dreams of saving enough one day to make it to a World Cup match where he can cheer for the men in yellow from the stands.
Halder, a father of two, both of whom root for Messi, has been selling the snack in front of Kasba PS and the small shop decorated in yellow and green is difficult to miss when one drives from Bijon Setu towards Acropolis Mall.
“I am a poor man, and this was the least I could do to promote my favourite team’s game. I had thought of treating my patrons free snack for a day if Brazil had won the cup. But my heart broke when they lost the match against Croatia in the penalty shootout. I hope I can earn more in the next four years and can offer an even better deal in the next World Cup and hope Brazil can win the cup that time,” said Halder, also a Mohun Bagan supporter.
Halder used to play football in his young days and dreamt of becoming a professional footballer before a leg injury ruined his dream and with pressure mounting on him to run the family, he took up small entrepreneurship.
A resident of Talbagan in Kasba Bosepukur, Halder also hails from a locality, which is known as a Brazil para, with a club Balak Sangha setting up a giant screen outside on Brazil’s match days where the local residents cheer for the team together.
After Friday’s loss, a pall of gloom has shrouded the entire neighbourhood who seemed confused over what they would do in the remaining matches of the World cup.
“Had Brazil won on Friday, it would have been a cracker of a semi final against Argentina. With Brazil out, I will perhaps want Argentina’s Lionel Messi to lift the cup which he rightly deserves,” said Halder.