Piles of clothes lay around. Shirts, pants, sarees ofvarious colours and sizes mark certain areas. An elderly gentleman looks at thegarments with interest and starts issuing instructions. This has been Vyankatesh Atchut Naik Dalal’sroutine for 50 years now. As the proprietor of the popular Lakaki chain oflaundries, he has come a long way from the day when he started his business ina small shed in Margao. As he celebrates his 75th birthday in November, hereveals that he established his first laundry in the month of March when heturned 25.
The physical act of setting up the business may have beeneasier when compared to battling existing prejudices. Hailing from the businesscommunity of the Saraswats his decision to start a laundry was not welcome.“Nobody liked my idea of washing public garb as it was considered below ourdignity but I was determined” said Naik Dalal.
“I was fascinated by the starched outfits of the Navypersonnel and the starched white khadi attire of the freedom fighters andwanted to provide this service in Goa” says Naik Dalal. He went to Mumbai forthree months and stayed in Dadar ¬to learn more about the laundrybusiness. The owner of BandBox a laundrybased in Worli, Ramkumar Batra and Chunilal Padiya from Garment Cleaning Worksalso based in Worli offered him guidance to start Lakaki in 1962. “I owe Lakakito Batra and Padiya” says a humble Naik Dalal.
Mukesh Kantilal, the company manager of Ramsons based in Bangalore insisted that Naik Dalalbuy the machinery from his company. He reduced the money to be paid as anadvance, supported the young businessman financially, gave him credit andprovide training and free delivery to Goa. “That was a great solace” says athankful Naik Dalal, concluding, “I have got all good people in life and in mybusiness.”
There was not much competition when he opened shop. Lakakiwas known for removing difficult stains from clothes. In fact this became theirselling point and 50 years ago it was the only laundry in Goa to provide thisservice.
The laundry gained fame and customers. Naik Dalal openedoutlets in Panjim, Vasco, Ponda and Sanvordem . The outlets in Ponda andSanvordem however had to be shut due to the scarcity of labour . “I unfailinglyshow up at the laundry in margao every morning to take charge of affairs. Theclothes from all the outlets are transported to Margao every day,” he says.Huge washers and driers wash clothes in the thousand every day. Delicate linenhowever, is however dried naturally in the open.
The prompt and polite service of the staff and theiradherence to the delivery time is what has remained unchanged through theyears. Today, Naik Dalal’s son Vinit and his daughter-in-law Shweta help himrun the Lakaki laundry.
