What is Saravana Rice Mandy on MG Road in Thiruvanmiyur was Saravana Maattutheevanam in 1960. Back then, it was selling cattle feed. In a span of 30 years, the shop gained a loyal customer base. Its proprietors are M. Dharmurajan and his two sons D. Mohan and D. Saravanan.
Virudhunagar-based M. Dharmurajan started his enterprise in 1960 which was selling fodder. “Seeing the sacks many thought that we were selling rice and came asking for it. So, our father felt we can probably try rice. We started with 20 sacks. Within a month the entire stock got cleared,” says D. Mohan. As the response was good, they gradually ventured into rice and wheat and from 1987 the shop became a rice mandy.
“We don’t have any other branch but we have customers across the city. We supply to hotels as well,” says Saravanan. If our customers have any complaints, we try to redress it at the earliest, the brothers add. The proprietors also try to satisfy their customers by trying to get them what they ask for.
“These days, people are well informed and they are becoming conscious of what they eat and its effects on health. Now many are aware that millets are wholesome and have included them in their everyday meal,” say the brothers. The shop now sells different types of millets like barnyard, foxtail, pearl and so on. “We also explain to our customers how to cook it,” says Saravanan.
“We got Moongil Arisi for one of our customers. It is believed to have therapeutic properties for cancer. We source it from Kerala and Orissa. This paddy gives yield once in 40 years,” says Saravanan. Now, a few customers have asked them to get other heirloom varieties like Mani Chamba, Garudan Chamba and Mappilai Chamba .
“It is essential that we conserve our environment. Recently, I read in a Tamil magazine that the population of honeybees is dwindling at a rapid pace and this could create a grave situation for the survival of mankind as bees are key agents of pollination,” says Saravanan.
(A column about establishments identified with a neighbourhood, but have a following across the city)
