'We celebrate all festivals, even Christmas'

Hameed Palolkandy is a well-known figure in the Al Nud neighbourhood of Sharjah. A watchman by profession, Palolkandy is the go-to man for anything and everything for people living in the buildings opposite the Mahatta Park area. "I've been living in Sharjah for 15 years and I've been taking care of this building for the last nine years. The people living here have been kind," added Hameed.
Hameed hails from the small town of Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode district in Kerala, India.
According to many of the residents of the building he takes care of, the 40-year-old watchman is blindly trusted by all its residents because he is never short of a cheerful disposition and helps anyone who asks for his help at the drop of a hat. Before taking charge as watchman, Hameed would work as a delivery man for some of the small supermarkets in Sharjah.
"Apart from fixing broken facilities in their houses, the families living in my building call on me for many other things as well," he said. "I pick children from their bus stops, wash cars, help families move furniture, and during Eid and other festivities we cook for the community and give all our neighbours food and treats," added Hameed. Outside of his caretaking jobs, Hameed constantly keeps a watchful eye on children who play in his building's play area, and he also runs errands for family members.
Hameed has never been able to bring his family, his wife and two children, to Sharjah, but he said that he never feels alone.
"I've never felt the pain of being away from my family back home because I am always surrounded by people who've their faith in me. We celebrate all festivals...even Christmas. For Christmas, a family living in one of the apartments in my building always calls me over for food and Christmas treats," he said.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
Interviewed by Dhanusha Gokulan.
Street Talk is a weekly column to get a glimpse of people's lives in UAE

• UAE
• Sharjah

Dhanusha Gokulan

• dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com