Parmar Priyakant V

Being at A/45 in the Vadodara Grain Market means waking up before the sun is even out. Machhiwara is a loud, bustling place during the early hours. My name is Parmar Priyakant V, and I’ve been part of this market for a long time. You can smell the grain and the jute bags as soon as you turn the corner. The shop is basically a large room filled with stacks of stuff. The floor is always a bit dusty, no matter how much I sweep. It’s just the nature of the grain market. We have big heavy scales and ledgers that I still write in by hand. Computers are fine, but I prefer the old way of doing things. The roof is made of tin, so when it rains, you can't hear yourself think. But it keeps the sun off us during the day. I have a small stool where I sit and watch the trucks get loaded and unloaded. It’s hard work, and the people here are tough. We don't use fancy words or have big meetings. We just trade and talk. Sometimes we share a meal in the afternoon when things slow down a bit. It’s a community of workers. I’ve seen the market change over thirty years, but the basic way we do things stays the same. It’s honest work, and it keeps me busy from dawn until late afternoon. It’s not a lifestyle for everyone, but it’s mine.