Ram Chet, a cobbler from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh, has gained newfound attention beyond just repairing sandals and polishing leather shoes by the roadside. His makeshift shop has become a popular spot, with people visiting to take selfies, officials checking on him, and passers-by stopping to greet him—all due to a visit from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
While in Sultanpur for a court hearing in a defamation case, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha stopped at Ram Chet’s shop. During this visit, Mr. Gandhi inquired about the cobbler’s trade and even tried his hand at mending shoes.
Footage of him attempting to stitch a sandal went viral. The following day, Mr. Ram Chet received a sewing machine from the Congress leader. This machine will make it easier for Mr. Ram Chet to stitch shoes, aiding him in his work.
The cobbler said his life has changed after Rahul Gandhi’s visit. “People are stopping their bikes, cars and calling out to me. He has given me a lot of respect,” said Mr Ram Chet.
The cobbler, Ram Chet, is receiving substantial offers for the footwear stitched by Rahul Gandhi during his visit, with one caller offering up to ₹10 lakh.
“The offers started at ₹5 lakh and have now increased to ₹10 lakh. One caller even offered bags of cash, but I refused. I won’t sell them,” Ram Chet said. When asked by a reporter, he jokingly remarked, “Rahul Gandhi is my partner. We run the shop together.”
Ram Chet also mentioned that he will not return the sandals to their original owner, offering to pay for them instead. He recounted his conversation with Rahul Gandhi, where the leader asked about his work. “He asked me how shoes are pasted, and I showed him. He even tried doing it himself,” Ram Chet shared.
Living in a makeshift hut without electricity, Ram Chet has seen officials visiting his place since his photo with Gandhi went viral on social media. “People from the administration are now coming and asking about my problems. They never came before,” he noted.
Regarding the sewing machine he received from Rahul Gandhi, Ram Chet said he plans to use it at his son’s house, which has electricity. “My son’s home has power, so I will keep the machine there and do the sewing work,” he told news agency PTI.
Raghuram, Ram Chet’s son, expressed their joy at meeting the Congress leader. “He treated us with respect and dignity. He asked me why I am no longer in this profession. I explained that when I worked as a cobbler, people did not respect me, so I left the profession and now work as a laborer,” Raghuram told ANI.
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