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The girl who's walking into Guinness with Bata

Ch Sushil Rao in Hyderabad

Little Asfia's teacher in St Helen's School at Gunfoundry, Hyderabad was surprised at the unusual sparkle on the LKG student's shoes everyday. She called for her father, Dr Aleem Quadri, wanting to know the secret behind it. The answer amused her.

No, he was not using any special polish on Asfia's shoes. Instead, the doting father had been sending his little one in new shoes everyday!

That's what he had been doing all through Asfia's first year at school -- from June 16, 1997 till March 27, 1998.

Which means, Asfia wore new shoes on all 163 working days. If wearing new shoes everyday to school is a record in itself, Asfia is also credited with the record of being the only student to have put in 100 per cent attendance during an academic year in the 95 years of the school's existence.

Asfia continues to wear new shoes even in her UKG. Till now she has worn over 276 new pairs and will continue to do so till the end of this academic year.

"This will sure ensure my daughter's name in the Guinness book of World Records," the happy father told Rediff On The NeT at his home in Shah Ali Banda near the historic Charminar in the old city.

Six months before Asfia was to join school, the father was overtaken by a strong desire to see that somehow his daughter's name would enter the Guinness Book. He read the book over and over again and then this idea struck, just a day before she was to be sent to school.

Dr Quadri went straight to the nearby Bata shop and bought a pair of shoes for his daughter. And that is what he planned to do everyday till he is sure of his daughter's world record.

"Every child knows the rhyme Twinkle twinkle little star and I want my child to be that little star," he says with a twinkle in his eye, happy that the Guinness Book has shown interest in the record and is corresponding with him.

Asfia too is aware of the record that she is creating. She came straight to this correspondent and announced, "New shoes," pointing to her footwear. In the same breath she added, "World record."

Immediately bursting into laughter, Asfia shouted "Guinness" and ran into the house again to where her 'museum' of shoes are kept. The careful father has arranged all shoes in the order of the day Asfia wore them. Not only that, all the cartons and the bills of her new shoes and socks have been carefully preserved.

At the school, everyone knows about her. Dr Quadri, who runs a bone-setting centre, is thankful to god for her good health. "If god had not given her good health, she would not have been regular to school and I would not have been able to pursue this record for her," he says.

Has his daughter tried to take advantage of his `generosity' and demanded more new things for her everyday? "No, she hasn't. She is as normal as any other child. On the contrary when she asks for more chocolates and I refuse, she doesn't make a fuss. She is convinced when I tell her that her health may be spoiled because of that," he says.

Though Asfia loves going to school in new shoes, she doesn't mind if her father decides to stop buying more. "I'll wear my other shoes if my daddy does not buy new shoes," she says.

But once her name enters the Guinness Book, Asfia may not have all the shoes for herself. Her father has already decided that all the shoes would be distributed among the poor in various schools.

Dr Qadri has spent nearly Rs 38,000 in pursuit of the record. He spent Rs 119.95 for each new pair of shoes and Rs 17.95 for a new pair of socks in the first months. Now he pays the increased rate of Rs 124.95 per pair.

"Initially my family, including my wife and mother were annoyed at me for wasting money unnecessarily. Gradually they changed their opinion and they too are happy about the world record now," the proud father says.

While Dr Quadri's sole intention is to let the whole world know about his daughter, the little one has more such desires. She will not let go anyone who comes to see her without showing her other play things, like her teddy bear, a wooden horse, mini car and a ball -- all the while giggling uncontrollably.

The 'celebrity' has also become perfect in handling the media. With the BBC and Star News and the print media featuring her, she seems to love it all.

The 'world record' by the girl also prompted Thomas J Bata of the Bata International, Canada, to pay a visit to the home of his 'special customer' earlier this month.

Dr Quadri will, however, not be content with seeing just Asfia's name in the Guinness Book. The five year old is his eldest daughter and he has two more children. While his second daughter is one-and-a-half-years old, he was, on December 9, blessed with a son. "I will ensure their place also under the sun," he declares with determination.

Fame has come to the Quadri household not only because of Asfia. For the last 60 years his family has been a running a bone-setting centre at Shah Ali Banda where more than 4 million people have been treated. Dr Quadri's father, Gulam Ahmed is famous for his technique of setting bones, without surgery.

Dr Quadri's attempt to ensure his father's name in the Guinness Book could not materialise due to Dr Gulam Ahmed's demise. Now the senior Quadri's eight sons and daughter carry on the father's legacy.

This apart, Dr Quadri has a collection of nearly 3,000 coins belonging to the ancient, medieval and modern periods.

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