– M Rafi Ahmed
Touted to be the top most civilian honour, the France President Emmanuel Macron is to recognise a newspaper vendor 73-year-old Ali Akbar for his dedication in his profession unmindful of his age braving rain or shine. Hailing from Rawalpindi in Pakistan, the septuagenarian migrated to France in search of greener pastures and has been selling newspapers for the past 50 years at Latin Quarter in Paris.
According to sources, Akbar will be knighted in France’s National Order of Merit by Prez Emmanuel Macron this September. Notably, Akbar moved to France in 1973 and has been selling newspapers with enthusiasm. Known for his cheerful personality and deep love for print, he remains the city’s last walking newspaper vendor. Despite print media losing its sheen due to the innovation of digital format, Akbar continues to sell newspapers.
Following digital media turning to be readers’ favourite as it is handy to browse through in the cell phones, Akbar makes it a point to sell around 20 copies of Le Monde daily and has become a beloved local figure. Locals call him an “institution,” praising his dedication and spirit that keeps the neighbourhood’s charm alive. To be precise, he is keeping the newspaper reading alive, come what may.
“I just love the feel of paper,” Ali Akbar reported saying to a media in Paris, “I don’t like tablets and all that kind of stuff. But I do like reading. Whatever the type. Real books. But never on screens.” More often than not, he is seen on the busy streets in the Latin Quarter.
“I have a certain way of selling newspapers. I try to make jokes. So people laugh. I try to be positive and I create an atmosphere… I try to get into people’s hearts, not their pockets,” he said.
But the job has become much harder in the era of digital publishing.
It is learnt that he is said to be the last street newspaper vendor in Paris who still sells papers directly to passers-by. The National Order of Merit is awarded by the French government to individuals for distinguished civil or military achievements. Ali Akbar caught the attention of the France President Emmanuel Macron through news media reports about his newspaper vending job.
The Ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit) is a French order of merit with membership awarded by the President of the French Republic, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The reason for the order’s establishment was twofold: to replace the large number of ministerial orders previously awarded by the ministries; and to create an award that can be awarded at a lower level than the Legion of Honour, which is generally reserved for French citizens as well as foreign nationals for distinguished civil or military achievements. It comprises about 185,000 members; 306,000 members have been admitted or promoted in 50 years.
Some are born great, Some achieve greatness while Some have greatness thrust upon them. Ali Akbar belongs to the third category where his dedication and determination in selling newspapers in the foreign land fetched him the one of the greatest honour from the President of France Emmanuel Macron.
[The author is former Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle chief]
