Mishri Mal Kewal Chand

Down at Krishi Mandi 9, you’ll find Mishri Mal Kewal Chand. It’s right in the middle of all the noise and the trucks. We’ve been operating from this same stall for years. It’s not a big operation, just a few of us making sure things run right. Every morning starts the same way, unlocking the heavy shutters and sweeping the floor. There's always dust from the grain bags. We spend a lot of time talking to the people who bring their produce in from the fields. Some of them we've known since they were kids. The mandi is a tough place to work if you don't like being on your feet. My back usually hurts by the end of the day but that’s just part of it. We keep our records in big books. Sometimes we lose a pen or two in the stacks of bags. It gets very busy during the peak seasons and then we barely have time to sit down for a meal. The fans on the wall don't do much when it’s really hot out. We just keep moving. It isn't a place for people who want a quiet office job. We deal with the dirt and the noise every single day. That's just how the business is at the mandi.