I was a weaver and had to give it up as I was getting old and life as a weaver was hard. There were many challenges that I had to face. Being the sole earning member of my family of four it was tough to continue as a weaver. I have two daughters.
Then my sister – Prema Gopal – took me under her care and taught me to make herbal drinks using simple vegetables that are commonly used in our kitchens. It has been 15 years now since I started selling these drinks. I sell about 30 varieties of juices made from garlic, carrot, beetroot, mint, lemon, tulasi and so on. I add no sugar or salt, so the flavour of the core ingredient is what you will get to taste. It is healthy. So people can gulp it all down in one go as medicine or savour the taste and sip on it like juice. All the juices I sell are good for health. For instance garlic juice helps bring down cholesterol, mint is good for gastritis and beet root is great for blood.
I sell in Vijayanagar near Gayatri Hospital. There is also a park near by. So people who come to exercise and patients from the hospital are my customers. Now that I have a regular set of people I know how many people will choose garlic or bitter gourd juice. My whole helps me make the juices. We use mineral water and preparation is done hygienically.
I sell these drinks from 5.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. as they have to be consumed on an empty stomach. It is more beneficial this way.
Yes, I am able to sustain my family and it is easy for me to work like this now that I am 63 years old. A 200 ml. glass is priced at Rs. 10. I am satisfied with what I do. The only challenge I initially faced was to convince people about the health benefits about these drinks.
Now I have regular customers, who also vouch by the health benefits of these drinks. It has been 15 years now, and I have no complaints from any of my customers.
All in all life is good. I have no regrets. I am a happy man.
