Rasi Brick Works

Our place, Rasi Brick Works, is in Pakkam, which is in the Thiruvallur Taluk region. It is a basic setup, nothing too fancy to look at from the road. We have the usual stacks of bricks and the big kilns that stay hot for days on end. I spend most of my time walking around the yard making sure everything is drying correctly. We have a few workers who have been with us since we opened. They know the routine better than anyone. We get up before the sun to start the fires and don't really stop until it gets dark. The dust is everywhere, it’s just part of the job. We have a small desk near the entrance where we talk to the truck drivers and the local builders. We don't do any big marketing or anything. People just know that Rasi is here in Pakkam. Sometimes the clay isn't as good as the last batch, so we have to work it a bit more. It is a lot of hands-on work. We don't have many automated machines, so it’s all down to the strength of the guys. My wife brings us some food in the afternoon and we sit together for a bit. It is a hard way to make a living but it is what we know. We have been here for years and we plan to stay as long as the clay holds out.