Abhay Kumar Jain

I run my business out of the New Anaj Mandi in Chandpole Bazar. You can find me at shop D-9. My name is Abhay Kumar Jain, and this has been my workplace for many years. The New Anaj Mandi is always full of activity, with grain being moved and people shouting out prices. It’s a very traditional way of doing business. My shop is not very big, but it’s enough for what I do. I spend most of my time talking to people who come in to check the quality of the goods. I have a few stools for people to sit on, and there is almost always someone there having a chat. We keep the ledger books on a shelf behind the main counter. Everything is recorded by hand because I find it easier than using those new systems. The lights in the mandi can be a bit dim in the evenings, but we stay until the last deal is finished. It’s a lot of manual labor, moving bags and checking weights. My clothes usually end up covered in a bit of dust by the end of the shift. I don't mind it, it’s just the nature of the work. I’ve lived in this city all my life and being here in the market feels like home to me. It is a simple operation, really.