Shanmugam Rice Mill

We've been here at No.112/A for a while now. Being right near the Grain Market in Kapurthala means things stay pretty busy most days. It’s loud, dusty, and there is always a truck coming or going. We focus on the rice. That’s what we do. People come by, they ask what’s ready, and we show them what we have in the warehouse. It’s not fancy here. The floors are concrete and the machines have been running since before I can remember. My uncle used to run things, and now we just keep it moving as well as we can. Sometimes the weather makes things hard, especially when the rain hits the yard, but we manage. We aren’t trying to be the biggest mill in Punjab or anything like that. We just want to make sure the bags are filled right and the weight is honest. If you walk past the market, you’ll see our big green gate. Most mornings start with some tea and checking the rollers on the mill. It's regular work. Nothing special about it, just part of the town's rhythm. We know most of the farmers who bring their crop in. They talk about the weather and the prices while we unload the trailers. It takes time to get the hulling right, and we don't rush it if we don't have to. The smell of raw grain is everywhere. It’s a good smell, though. You get used to it after working here so many years.