My life journey did not start with big dreams and investments. I grew up in an ordinary family. So I could not think very high. Still, I continued to try to elevate myself. Until my youth, I was worried about how to lead a life like others.

The question of how to meet household expenses was nagging me. During such confusion, the thought of starting a business came to my mind. But, the thought of wandering for a job, going abroad did not come to my mind. I started a business thinking that I would do something in my own place, run a house with my own sweat.

This shop has connected me to society. Some share their sorrows, some share their joys. I not only sell goods in this shop, I am also maintaining relationships. I have a house in Amargadhi Municipality-5, Khalanga. And a little above Bagbazar, I have a small grocery shop. Three decades of my life have been connected with this shop. For more than 30 years, I have been looking after customers, purchasing goods, settling accounts and running my life.

The situation has changed with time. Running a tea shop is not as easy as it used to be. The expenses increased, the competition also increased. Then I decided to change my business. I closed the tea shop and turned to a retail grocery store. This is where the next chapter of my life began. Now I am running ‘Pushkar Grocery Shop’. The shop also sells chocolates and biscuits for children. It is not a big business, but it is a regular business.

I open the shop early in the morning. Customers come and go throughout the day. When I close the shop in the evening, I settle the accounts for the day. At present, I earn about 10 thousand rupees per month. I do not earn as much as before, but I do not have any problem making ends meet in the morning and evening. This income is used to cover the household expenses. I raised my family from the shop.

All household chores, food, and clothes are done with this income. I also educated my son with the income from this shop. There are three sons, one daughter-in-law. My wife, daughter-in-law, son and I have formed a beautiful family. The sons and daughter-in-law are now engaged in their own work. I am happy that I have made them self-reliant.

Many people ask me in life if I have ever thought of going abroad. They say that they have no desire to do big business. But, I have never thought of going abroad. A person who has been involved in business since childhood, my life has been connected to this place, this market, this shop. I have never felt compelled to go far.

It has never been easy to do business. Sometimes the market is in a slump, sometimes it is expensive, sometimes there are fewer customers. There are ups and downs with time. Earlier, the income from running a tea shop was good, now the income from a grocery store is not that level. But I am satisfied because I have got used to enjoying business.

I love my shop very much. When I open the shop in the morning, I feel a sense of belonging. This shop has connected me to society. Neighbors, customers, acquaintances all meet here. Some share their sorrows, some share their joys. I not only sell goods in this shop, I am also maintaining relationships.

Business has not made me very rich, but it has given me self-respect. I have not had to stretch my arms to others. The money I have earned with my own sweat has been used to cover my household expenses. This is my greatest achievement. Today, I am enjoying this shop. ‘Pushkar Grocery Store’ is my identity. As long as my body supports me, I will continue to run this shop. Even though it is small, spending my life in my own hard-earned business is the greatest satisfaction for me.

Presentation: Tarkaraj Bhatt