Rajesh Goud’s stall at Abids GPO tells story of Hyderabad’s government job dreams

For decades, Hyderabad’s Abids GPO bus stand was a magnet for government job aspirants. Now, only one stall remains, run by Rajesh Goud, who reflects on the golden era when thousands came daily to buy job application forms

Hyderabad: For any Hyderabadi aspiring for a government job in the 1980s and 1990s, all roads led to the Abids General Post Office bus stand.

Around half a dozen stalls that were located here then exclusively sold the job applications and details to job aspirants. Now, with changing times and job applications having gone online, all the stalls save for one, managed by Rajesh Goud, have vanished.

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“I am continuing with it, although many people have wound up the business as the process for applying for jobs has become digital. People now submit the application online, so there is no demand for hard copies of the job application,” said Rajesh Goud.

Until a decade ago, the stalls attracted thousands of job aspirants every day. “Youngsters bought the application form, filled it sitting on the pavement around GPO and posted it,” recalls Rajesh, who ran that stall for close to 45 years.

From banking to defence to recruitment in railways, the stall owners used to sell photocopies of the application forms along with attached copies of how to and where to apply. The application forms of central government departments, State government departments, and public sector undertakings were in great demand.

Rajesh considers 1983 to 2013 as the golden period for their business, given the huge craze that prevailed for government and PSU jobs. “Throughout the day, girls and boys descended on the stall to purchase the application form. Sometimes, we used to get tired after a hectic day. But now I just idle around and sell some stationery items,” he says.

People from far-off districts also used to come here and browse through the various employment opportunities and purchase suitable application forms and the details booklet.

“Now the people who managed to get jobs after purchasing the application form here visit to collect the detailed booklet for their children. I feel happy when they tell me that they frequented my stall during their struggle days and secured a job,” adds Rajesh.