Lalit Agarwal

I run this business out of Harischandrapur in the Malda district. The exact spot is in Thanapara. It’s a local place where everyone pretty much knows each other. Being in Malda means we are quite a distance from the big cities but we have everything we need right here. The shop is part of the local landscape and we see neighbors walking by all day. We deal with whatever comes our way and try to keep things organized despite the small space we have. It’s not a corporate office with air conditioning and glass walls. It’s more of a traditional setup where papers might be stacked on the desk and the ceiling fan is always humming. The weather in Harischandrapur can get quite hot in the summers so we usually keep the windows open. We handle a lot of the work ourselves and don’t have a huge team of people running around. It’s a direct way of doing business. People from the surrounding villages often stop by when they are in Thanapara for other chores. We’ve been here for a while and the building shows a bit of wear and tear but it stays sturdy. It feels good to be a part of the local community here. We just take things one day at a time and focus on the tasks at hand without making a big fuss about it. It’s a simple life and a simple business in a quiet corner of West Bengal. We enjoy the pace here.