Saturday, June 16, 2018

Real Happiness of Eid


REAL HAPPINESS OF EID

BY V. M. Khaleelur Rahman

Eid-ul-Fitr or Ramadan Eid is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving to God after successful completion of the month-long fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and on sighting the crescent moon of the 10th month called Shawwal. Ramadan is meant for fasting, worship and charity, and also for self-introspection for the purpose of purification of one's soul and body by giving up bad and attaining good things. The Holy Quran says, "Fasting is prescribed to you as it was to those before you so that you may learn self-restraint." Fasting brings people together and creates a sense of camaraderie among them. It inculcates in them righteous conduct, to be good people and brotherhood of man by eradicating evils such as anger, greed and malice.

Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) has said, "Do not belittle even the smallest act of kindness even if it is no more than meeting your neighbour with a smiling and cheerful face. We should not consider any charity small or not worth doing. Charity, big or small, should be given in a pleasant manner without hurting the feeling of its receivers and with the thought that we are only discharging a religious duty from the wealth God has given us." According to Islam even our day-to-day acts, like being kind to others at home and outside, are charity and it makes a big difference in our relations with them.

Once when Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) was on his way to Idgah for Id prayers, he saw a poor boy about five-years-old sitting on the pavement sadly. He went near him and asked, "Why are you alone here, my dear boy?" The boy started weeping and said, "I am an orphan with nobody to care for me." The Prophet could not bear the pathetic words of the poor boy and consoled him saying, "From now on you can look to me as your father and Ayesha as your mother," and returned home with him. When his wife Ayesha fed him and dressed him well for Id prayers the Prophet lifted him on his shoulders and said, "Ayesha, this is the happiest Id for me. I experience true happiness at the happiness of this little orphan boy." He was a great benefactor of humanity and his mission right from the beginning to end was to see that every individual maintained his self-respect free from any sort of slavery.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Chennai Leather Market - June 2018


CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET

V M Khaleelur Rahman

In Chennai leather market demand continues for grain selection of higher grades in tanned goat skins. Exporters of shoes buy 4/6 ABC at around Rs.95 per sq. ft. and R/V/IF combined at around Rs.70 per sq. ft. whereas leather exporters mostly show interest for 4/6 and 5/7 sq. ft. goat lining leathers at around Rs.38 and Rs.45 per sq. ft. respectively. Tanned Suede skins are slow at movements at around Rs.40 per sq. ft. 

As far as lower selections such as Rejection and Langda are concerned, the less said the better. Demand continues to be limited at around Rs.13 and 10 per sq. ft. Some tanners have sold even at much reduced prices than these. In other words prices are erratic and tanners have no option but to make desperate sales as they cannot hold stock for long as they are hard pressed for money.

Exporters say that China and Pakistan are big competitors in the world leather market. But Indian exporters are trying their best to face this challenge and market their products. Of course there are long time overseas customers of Indian exporters who prefer Tamil Nadu tanned goat skins and finished leathers because of their qualities and standards.

Quotations of tanners are as follows:

E. I. Tanned Goat Skins

Grain Selection:

4/6 sq. ft. Run Rs.95, Fifths R.75, Inf. Fifths Rs.65 and LIF Rs.55
5/7 sq. ft. Run Rs.100, Fifths Rs.85, Inf. Fifths Rs.75 and LIF Rs.65

Suede Selection:

4/6 sq. ft. Rs.40 and 5/8 Rs.45

Lining Selection:

4/6 sq. ft. 38 and 5/8 Rs.45

Mesh Selection:

4/6 sq. ft. 29 and 5/8 sq. ft. Rs.33

All prices are per sq. ft.

Export Orders

It is learnt that some big exporters have sold their S/C better quality upper leathers at around Rs.2.50 and lining leathers at around Rs.1.80. As higher selections are not easily available in the market tanners have increased their prices mainly for upper leathers. Small exporters have limited business with their regular customers but are not able to get orders for big quantities.

As regards F/C sheep leathers, Japanese customers are slowly showing interest for 5/7 sq. ft. All Suede at around JY180 but exporters say this is not workable. Rejections in 4/6 and 5/7 sq. ft. are sold at around JY 110 and 100 per sq. ft. C&F by sea respectively.

Quotations of Exporters

F/C sheep leather

4/6 sq. ft. All Suede JY 190, LIF Suede JY 160 and Rejection Suede JY 115
6/9 sq. ft. All Suede JY 205, LIF Suede JY 175 and Rejection Suede JY 125

All per sq. ft. C&F by sea.

                            S/C OR F/C GOAT LEATHERS
Material
Size/sq. ft.
Substance
Selection
Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F
Goat upper leather
 4/7
0.6/0.8 mm
ABC
2.40
Goat milled leather
4/7
0.6/0.8 mm
TR-1
1.80
Goat suede leather
4/6
0.6/0.8 mm
All Suede

1.85
Goat lining leather
4/7
0.5/0.7 mm
TR-1
1.75
6/9
0.6/0.8 mm
TR-1
1.85

                        F/C SHEEP LEATHERS
Material
Size/sq.ft.
Substance
Selection
Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F
Sheep Cabretta leather
4/7
0.6/0.8 mm
ABC
2.15
Sheep Cabretta leather
6/9
0.8/1.00 mm
ABC
2.30
Sheep lining leather
4/7
5/8
0.5/0.7 mm
0.6/0.8 mm
TR-1
TR-1
1.70
1.80

 
(Writer’s e-mail id: vmk1234@yahoo.com)