Some things from childhood fade as the years pass, yet a single glimpse can bring all the old memories rushing back. Chanachur is exactly that kind of thing — and in Bihar's Jehanabad district, one man is still delivering it to people in the same old, traditional style. He packs the chanachur into paper packets sealed inside a box, heads out of his house early in the morning, and moves from lane to lane, neighbourhood to neighbourhood, and on to crowded spots to sell it.
Who Devmuni Is
The man behind this is Devmuni, a resident of Hulasganj block who is around 50 years old. Several people in his family have done this same work before him. Every day he steps out with 100 files of chanachur loaded into a single case. He leaves home by 8 in the morning and returns by afternoon once the day's selling is done. He prices each packet of chanachur at 10 rupees.
From Kitchen to Street, All by Hand
Devmuni's day begins with preparing the chanachur itself, and his family pitches in to help make it at home. Once it is ready, he packs it into the box and sets out to sell. Whatever he earns through the day's sales is what runs his household. For many who see him, he is a living reminder of their own childhood days.
A Family Trade Built on Sheer Labour
Devmuni tells TrendKia that he could not study much because his family's financial condition was never good. Selling chanachur has been a hereditary tradition in his family — his father spent his life doing the same work, and now the responsibility rests on his shoulders. The entire job runs on physical effort alone. Each day he turns gram into chanachur, packs it into the box, and heads out to sell. He carries 100 files out daily, of which roughly 50 are sold — and that is just enough to cover his expenses. The catch is that it demands a great deal of walking every single day.
Ten Kilometres on Foot, Every Day
Devmuni says he walks at least 10 km a day, and it is this effort that brings in a daily income of up to 500 rupees. That earning is what keeps the whole family going. He adds that his child too could not find any work, so the full burden of the household still falls on him. With age, his body has begun to tire, but for as long as he can keep going, he intends to carry this business forward.
