Dutta & Dutta (India)

Our shop, number 887, is located in the middle of Nai Sarak. If you know the area, you know how crowded and narrow the streets can be at any time of day. Dutta & Dutta (India) has been a part of this landscape for years. The shop is narrow and tall, filled with stacks of items reaching almost to the ceiling. It’s a bit of a maze inside. We know exactly where everything is, even if it looks like a total mess to someone walking in for the first time. The air is always thick with the smell of paper and old buildings. We deal with a lot of people every day, mostly because Nai Sarak is such a famous market. It’s constant noise—bells from rickshaws, people shouting, and the general bustle of trade. We don't have air conditioning, just some old ceiling fans that hum away all afternoon. We drink a lot of water and tea to stay going in the heat. Our desks are small and covered in ledgers and receipts. We still do a lot of things the old-fashioned way because it works for us. There’s a certain rhythm to life here that you don't find in the newer parts of the city. We’ve seen the market change over the decades, but our little shop stays pretty much the same. It’s hard work, but it’s what we know. We close up when the sun goes down and start again tomorrow morning.