Salil Bothra

My name is Salil Bothra and I run my business from 178, Haldiyon Ka Rasta, right in the middle of Johri Bazar. If you’ve ever been to this part of Jaipur, you know how crowded and loud it gets with all the gem traders and tourists. My shop is tucked away in one of the traditional lanes. I spend most of my day sitting on the floor on a white mattress, which is the old way we do things here. I deal in gemstones, mostly looking at parcels and deciding what’s worth keeping. It’s a lot of looking through magnifying glasses and weighing stones on small scales. I don't have a big staff, just a couple of people to help with the errands and the cleaning. I don't use a lot of fancy technology, just the basic tools that have been used in Johri Bazar for generations. The building is old and the stairs are steep, but it has a lot of character. I don't do any marketing or have a big sign outside. People find me because they know the address or someone told them to come see me. It’s a very personal way to do business. We drink a lot of chai and talk about the market prices. I just take things one day at a time and try to keep the business running smoothly. It’s not fancy, but it is how we live.