Akbar Ali & Sons

We are based at 57 Hathipole, right in the heart of Loha Bazar in Chamanpura. This has been a family business for a very long time. The street outside is always full of people moving iron rods and heavy sheets of metal. You can hear the sound of clanging steel from early morning until late at night. It is a narrow part of the city, so getting trucks in and out is always a bit of a struggle for us. We mostly deal with iron products and raw materials for construction. The shop itself is old, with high ceilings and walls that have turned dark from years of dust and metal work. We do not use computers for everything; a lot of our accounts are still kept in big paper ledgers. My sons are usually here with me, helping to load the heavy stuff and talking to the regulars. We do not have a fancy showroom or a place for people to sit down. It is just a working warehouse where business happens over the counter. The tea stall next door is where we take our breaks when things get a little quiet. People come to us because we have been in Loha Bazar forever and we know the trade inside out. It is a gritty, busy life, but we like being part of the old market. We just keep our heads down and handle the iron as it comes in. It is a simple way of living and working.