Amar Singh is busy through the day. You will always find him peeling sweet lime, squeezing out the juice in his machine, straining it or serving it. He is 23 years old and came to the city with his wife seeking greener pastures. “I am from Unnao district in Uttar Pradesh. I was working as a artisan for a big company. I could not make ends meet. We left thinking we can live better here. But even here setting up base was a huge struggle,” says the young man, who adds that he never dreamt of making a living by selling juice.
“My friends saw my struggle. They are into the same profession and are doing okay. So they gifted me this push cart and the machine and I started with a few fruits, which I bought for a small loan,” says the man gratefully. He says that on some days he can save anywhere between Rs. 100 and Rs. 150.
He starts his day at 4 a.m. with a bus trip to City Market where he buys the fruits. Then it is back to Cantonment Railway Station, where he parks his push cart for Rs. 20 a night. “Then I clean everything and arrange the cart and push it here. By the time I buy water from the neighbouring offices and set it all up, it is 8.30 a.m. On some days I get the water free or I have to pay Rs. 20 per tank,” says Amar.
Talking about the city, Amar says: “Bangalore is a very kind city. It has been six years since I made it my home. I find every one kind. Even the police and corporation people are kind. As long as we behave, they will not object to our making a living. I see a lot of compassion for the poor in this city, which is nice. This I find it only here,” he insists.
He leaves by 5.30 p.m. and pushes his cart back to the Cantonment railway station, and parks it back and goes home after a long day.
Amar’s sweet lime juice is priced at Rs. 15 per glass. His next dream is to educate his two children in good schools. “No matter what it will take me, I want them to study here and become big officers,” he concludes with a glint of determination in his eyes.
(A weekly feature on the men and women who make Bangalore what it is)
