In the heart of Paris's historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, a 73-year-old newspaper seller has become an enduring symbol of community and dedication. Ali Akbar, originally from Pakistan, has been honoured with one of France's most prestigious awards, the National Order of Merit, presented by President Emmanuel Macron in a ceremony at the Élysée Palace.
A Lifetime of Service on Parisian Pavements
For over fifty years, Ali Akbar has pounded the cobbled streets of Paris, transforming his newspaper rounds into a cherished daily ritual. His journey began in 1973 when he arrived in Paris from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, determined to build a life that could support his parents and seven siblings back home. Facing initial visa challenges, he found his calling with the help of an Argentinian student selling satirical magazines, joining the ranks of Paris's newspaper hawkers.
The Voice of Saint-Germain-des-Prés
President Macron praised Akbar as "the most French of the French" during the award ceremony, highlighting his role as "the accent of the sixth arrondissement" and "the voice of the French press on Sunday mornings." Akbar's warm, booming voice has become a familiar soundtrack across the terraces of Saint-Germain, weaving between restaurant tables and engaging locals and tourists alike.
His unique approach to selling newspapers goes beyond mere commerce. "I try to make jokes, so people laugh. I try to be positive and I create an atmosphere," Akbar explained. "I try and get into people's hearts, not their pockets." This philosophy has endeared him to generations of Parisians, from former President François Mitterrand to Sciences Po students who would later become prominent figures, including Macron himself and former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe.
Building a Life Against the Odds
Akbar's early years in Paris were marked by hardship. He slept rough under bridges and in squalid rooms, determined to send as much money as possible to his family in Pakistan. Despite these challenges, his ready smile, sense of humour, and willingness to walk miles each day proved successful, allowing him to build a modest life in the city.
Over the decades, he married and raised five children, becoming what local lawyer Marie-Laure Carrière describes as "an institution" in the Left Bank. "If Ali didn't exist, St-Germain-des-Prés wouldn't be St-Germain-des-Prés," she remarked, underscoring his integral role in the neighbourhood's cultural fabric.
A Disappearing Way of Life
The award comes as a poignant tribute to a profession facing extinction in the digital age. Akbar recalls selling up to 200 newspapers daily in his prime, but now struggles to sell about 20 copies of Le Monde in an eight-hour shift. "Everything is digital. People just don't buy newspapers," he observed, reflecting on the changing media landscape.
He also mourns the transformation of Saint-Germain-des-Prés from a village-like community where "everyone knew each other" to a district where "every day there's a new face." Once frequented by philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, the area has evolved, yet Akbar remains a constant presence.
Recognition and Resilience
President Macron acknowledged Akbar's remarkable journey during the ceremony, detailing his childhood in Pakistan marked by poverty, forced labour, and violence. "You dream of only one thing: leaving. Escaping poverty, getting an education. Earning enough money to buy your mother a beautiful house," Macron said, recounting Akbar's perilous journey through Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and Greece as an undocumented immigrant.
For Akbar, receiving the National Order of Merit serves as "a balm for the many wounds" accumulated over his lifetime. Yet, despite this prestigious recognition, he has no plans to retire. "Retirement will have to wait until the cemetery," he joked, insisting he will continue zigzagging through Paris's streets and cafes as long as he has the energy.
His story stands as a testament to resilience, community, and the enduring human connections that transcend changing times and technologies.
