Gajanan Castor Oils & Agro Industries

Gajanan Castor Oils & Agro Industries is right at Khadia Pole No. 1 in Babaji Pura. It’s a tight spot to get into, especially when the carts are moving through the narrow lanes early in the morning. We spend most of our days here surrounded by the heavy smell of castor seeds. It’s a thick, earthy scent that stays in your clothes long after you go home. The machines we use aren’t the newest models, but they work hard and we know how to fix them when they act up. We mostly deal with the seeds and the oil extraction process, which is a messy business. The floors are often slippery, so you have to watch your step. We have a small office tucked in the corner where the ledger stays. It’s usually dusty because the windows stay open to catch whatever breeze comes through Babaji Pura. We drink a lot of tea while we wait for the farmers to bring their loads in. Sometimes they’re late, sometimes the crop is small, but that’s just how the seasons go. We don’t have fancy uniforms or a big sign out front. People just know us by the sound of the presses and the location at the start of the pole. It’s been this way for a long time. We just keep our heads down and get through the daily work. The electricity is a bit patchy in the afternoons, so we use that time to sweep up or organize the barrels.