Mamta Bhura Masala

Out here in Basudebpur, near Anantapur, life moves a bit slower than in the city. Our place, Mamta Bhura Masala, is deep in the Samserganj area of Murshidabad. We deal with spices, so the air around our building always has a strong, sharp smell that hits you as soon as you get close. It is a local operation, mostly run by family and a few people from the village who have been with us for years. We don't have any big automated plants. Most of what we do involves traditional methods because that is how we were taught. The machines we use are loud and they need constant oiling and care. During the harvest seasons, we are incredibly busy, often working late into the night under dim lights to get everything processed. We don't really have a fancy office for meetings; we usually just sit on stools in the main area and talk. Murshidabad has a lot of history with trade, and we feel like we are just carrying on that old tradition in our own small way. We don't spend money on commercials or big billboards. People find us because they know the quality of the masala we produce. It’s a dusty, noisy, and fragrant job, but it is what keeps our families fed and our village connected. We just take it one day at a time.