During this horrific and terrifying time period, the entirety of the world suffers the same suffering. However, I wanted to dive into somewhere local and close to home: Whitechapel market. This large high street is a major staple of East London as it not only holds great history but also includes the iconic and possibly the most well known market in the city.
Due to the corona-virus outbreak, the streets have been fairly empty since the beginning of March 2020. Many people’s lives depend on their businesses, as the market is the only place they know. The businessmen thrive on these stalls, as it’s their livelihood. However, very quickly before social distancing was encouraged, the streets of Whitechapel road were not as busy as it is all year round.
The marketplace thrives all year-round during heavy shower periods, snow storms, windy weeks but have continued to stay open for customers as there would still be pedestrians searching for scarves and accessories despite terrible weather. But, this has been the first time where stalls have had to completely shut down. Many of the storeowners are suffering and I managed to talk to two “veteran” salespersons before streets were cleared for social distancing.
I asked Kamrul Husain, a luggage and suitcase salesman, who worked for more than 5 years in Whitechapel, about how he feels on the current state of the marketplace. He says: “I’ve never seen the market like this. It feels like a ghost town, as there’s nobody around. I’ve seen many old friends who work in the convenience stores who have I have noticed bumping the price of certain household necessities. It’s shameful. Some greedy salesman who has taken advantage of the situation by selling cheap and low standard masks and gloves but some customers is easily manipulated. I can’t do that! I’ve sold to some of these people for years.”
I also asked Atik Rahman, a scarves and turban salesman, who has worked in Whitechapel for more than five years, how he will occupy himself and what he thinks will happen. He says: “We haven’t been given any help or guidance as to what we can do in this situation, I understand that as this is a very new problem. The stall was my only source of income, those of us who work here do not have other side-jobs so we have no clue whether or not we will be given a grant or any sum of money to help us in this tragic dilemma. We’re trying to stay hopeful but we don’t know for how long.”
As do many of us, both Rahman and Husain share the emotions all of us are feeling: Confusion, fear and some hope. Hopefully as time goes on, we will get some answers and we also hope life continues as it did a few weeks ago, soon.
-Mohammed Rebut Kamal.
