Dewan Singh Gurbachan Singh Bhatia

Our family business, Dewan Singh Gurbachan Singh Bhatia, is located at Shop No 489 in the New Grain Market at Mandi Bhagtanwala. The market is a very lively place, especially during the peak seasons when the grain starts coming in. There are tractors everywhere and the air is thick with the smell of the harvest. Our shop is right in the thick of it. It’s a small space where we sit and meet with the farmers who bring their produce to the market. We have stacks of bags and old wooden desks where we keep track of everything. We’ve been here through many seasons, and we’ve seen the market change over the years. We don’t have a computer for everything; a lot of our work is still done with a pen and a notebook. It’s a very traditional way of doing business, based on long-term relationships and trust. We don't have air conditioning, so the overhead fans are always on, moving the warm air around. We know just about everyone in the Mandi, and there is always someone dropping by for a chat or a quick cup of tea. It’s a lot of hard work during the busy months, and the days can be very long. But we take pride in being a part of this community and keeping the family name going in the grain market. It’s what we’ve always done and what we know best.