We Hubbers surely have a lot of things in common - a fact that explains the activity, the comments and the fan clubs. As I was thinking of the backgrounds of us Hubbers and the things that we write about, a question popped up in my head: Why don't I write about people who work in my neighbourhood, not neighbours but workers who are productively engaged and contribute to the immediate community? I believe that these little stories about ordinary folks will present an important aspect of daily life in an Indian metro - Chennai, which is where I live - and enable those interested in India to get a closer look at people who keep the wheels of the economy moving in a very special and interesting way.

The locality I live in is called Thiruvanmiyur, lying in the south of the metro, about a km from the beach. For more information click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvanmiyur

Here is the first story.

Iron Men - Keeping us neat and tidy

These men that you see in the pictures operate from a make-shift workspace on a busy street. (You will find at least one such Ironing Shop in every street in Chennai) The man at the back (in the picture) collects clothes from houses and delivers them neatly pressed before the end of the day. They work from 9 am to 9 pm for six days in a week, pressing on an average 300 pieces of clothing every day. They work hard right through the day, with short breaks for lunch and a cup of tea. They have a ready smile and are always willing to stretch themselves for the sake of their customers.

Notice the old-fashioned Iron Box (with a wooden handle) that is filled with hot coal pieces and used for pressing.