Karthik Alloys

Down on Waria Road in Angadpur, you’ll find us at Karthik Alloys. It’s a bit of a trek out here in the Burdwan district, but this is where the work happens. Dealing with alloys means we are always around high heat and a lot of heavy material. The road outside can get pretty bumpy with the heavy trucks passing through all the time. Sometimes the power flickers, which is just part of being out in this area I guess. We have a small crew and we’ve all been together for quite some time now. There’s a lot of soot and iron smell in the air, which stays on your clothes even after you go home. My wife always complains about the laundry. We don’t have any fancy signs or big posters. It’s just the name on the gate and the work being done inside. Most mornings start with a quick check of what needs to be melted or moved. It’s a straightforward business really. We sit around in the shade during the hottest part of the afternoon when we can. The tea guy comes by around four and that’s usually the highlight of the day. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s what we know how to do. We just focus on the metal and making sure the trucks are loaded up correctly before they head out to wherever they’re going. It's just a regular life here on Waria Road. We keep the machines running and try not to get too tired.