Rajesh Shukla

My name is Rajesh Shukla and you can usually find me in the basement at Palika Bazaar. It is right in the Kapoorthala area of Aliganj. Being in a basement means it stays much cooler in the summer, which is a blessing in Lucknow. The bazaar is always crowded with people looking for bargains. I have had this small spot for many years now. It is quite cramped and packed with all sorts of stuff, but I know exactly where everything is hidden. People come down the stairs looking for help with various small things. I do not have a big team helping me, just myself and maybe one helper on the very busy days. The lighting down here is not the greatest, but we make it work somehow. I have spent most of my adult life working right here in Aliganj. You get to know all the other shopkeepers in the bazaar really well. We share the local news and have snacks during the slow hours of the afternoon. My desk is usually covered in old papers and handwritten registers. I do not use a computer for much of anything. I still prefer writing things down by hand. It feels much more real and permanent that way. Sometimes the heavy rain causes issues with the basement entrance, but we manage to dry it out.