Ganga Brick Field

Out here at Ganga Brick Field in Barua Colony, the days start before the sun is even up. We are situated in the Barua area of Murshidabad. Most of the folks around here know us because we’ve been operating in this spot for quite a while. The ground is always covered in that fine dust that gets into everything, your hair, your clothes, even your lunch if you aren't careful. We have a routine that doesn't change much from one month to the next. We dig the earth, mix it, and set the molds. It’s a physical job that leaves you tired by the end of the day. The kiln is the heart of the whole place. Watching the smoke rise over Barua Colony is how we know things are moving along. Sometimes the supply of coal is late, and that causes a bit of a headache for everyone. We have to manage the workers and make sure the stacks are stable so they don't tumble over. There are no fancy signs or big advertisements around here. Just the bricks and the people who make them. We take breaks under the shade of the few trees we have left on the edge of the property. It is simple work, really. We just focus on making enough pieces to fill the orders that come in from the local builders. It is a steady way to make a living, even if the work is heavy on the back.