Attabira: A staunch believer in ‘Where there is will there is a way’, Bhim Ram, a native of Rajasthan, has created a niche for himself among residents of Attabira in Bargarh district with his honesty and hard work over the years.
A clay idol maker in profession, Ram earns a livelihood by selling colorful decorative items – religious idols, animals, birds and many household things made of clay.
This correspondent met Bhim who narrated his journey and his business.
“I along with my family came to Odisha, 12 years ago. We had no roof on our heads and no specific means of livelihood. Later, my skill of idol making stood by me in good stead to feed my family,” boasts a visibly happy Bhim.
Bhim Ram makes different kinds of decorative items, animals and idols from clay. Their attractive colour takes no much time in getting customers as he visits from one village to another village.
“Initially I used to sell my products along roadside where we stayed in a temporary thatched tent. The earning was far less than the labour we were putting into it. Yet, I put a brave face on it and went working on this,” Bhim narrates while arranging his products on the trolley.
“After some days luck smiled on us and our road side business picked up. Since then, I take my products to weekly markets, fairs and villages. And soon I realised that even my products have some takers,” adds Bhim Ram.
Seeing my products are in good demand, I felt encouraged and bought a trolley and got it equipped with a scooter engine. This helps me covering many places in comparatively less time,” beams Bhim Ram.
When asked about his income, he said, “If a day goes well for me, at the end of the day I find something between Rs 1000 and Rs 2000.”
Now he along with his family members stays at Binika Jogeswar Gudi in Subarnapur district. Family members collect clay from the bank of the Mahanadi and he after preparing the clay makes different items and idols out of it.
“Whatever I am reaping today is due to my honesty and hard work. I believe in good dealings as a key to success in every business and this attitude endears people towards me,” he says.
Now Bhim Ram is able not only to feed his family but also to send his children to school, hoping they would at least have a different and lucrative future.
PNN