WAY TO GO!: Stories that inspire

By making & selling kites, Naman Sood is preparing to soar again

A former restaurant manager takes to family business in order to stand on his own feet

Naman Sood making kites at his shop in Amritsar on Tuesday. Photo Sunil Kumar

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, NOVEMBER 10

Naman Sood lost the job of a manager at a restaurant in Ludhiana during the lockdown. He was not alone — 10 other staff members were also shown the door, much to their disappointment.

Naman Sood, A former restaurant manager

Back at restaurant, I used to handle around 40 customers daily. It started last month but I haven't received a call from my employer despite the fact that I have been with them for over three years. But seemingly, it doesn't matter anymore — as of now.

Rendered unemployed, he was aware that the hard-hitting times would floor him if an alternative isn’t found soon. As time dragged on; more was slipping from his hands, he thought it was best to restart the business of making kites. A skill he had learnt from his father in childhood. His father ran a shop at Shakti Nagar area in the walled city. The 31-year-old, following in his father’s footsteps, rented a shop at Rs3,000 per month on the Dhapai road and invested all savings on buying raw material to make kites. And this bailed him out of choppy waters.

“The season of kite flying starts with winter setting in; and touches the peak in no time,” he says, before outlining his future plans, “the rest of the year I could make and stock kites.”

After going ahead with the business, he also started now buying ‘made in Jaipur’ kites, which are popular for low cost and fine quality. “I don’t think I will need to buy from the next season,” since it could curtail his investment.

Back at restaurant, he used to handle around 40 customers daily. It started last month but he did not receive a call from his employer despite the fact he had been with them for over three years. But seemingly, it doesn’t matter anymore – as of now.