Simulia: He is not concerned with what goes around him or reading newspaper headlines. All that he is interested in is the more than three-decade long business of selling vermilion (sindoor) in villages.
Meet Sashi Bhushan Prusty, 50, who plies his trade in Simulia block in Balasore district. His is a household name as a vermilion seller in most of the villages in the block.
From newlywed brides to elderly woman, all fondly call him ‘Sashi bhai’. These women folks are so familiar with his voice that whenever he enters their villages and heralds his arrival, they come out of their houses and wait for him.
The moment Sashi arrives in his usual attire of lungi and shirt with a towel draped around his shoulders carrying a tin rectangular box containing round-shaped containers, the women make a mad rush to buy vermilion.
“His ‘sindoor’ is of very good quality. We have been using it for the last few years. It never irritates the skin,” a few elderly women stated in praise of Shashi.
“I grew up seeing my father Gopinath selling vermilion. Because of poverty, I had to give up education when I was in class VII. When the family responsibility fell on my shoulders, the best option was to take up my father’s business,” Sashi stated.
Sashi sells three hues of vermilion – red, red-orange and ‘disco’ turmeric. He charges Rs 10 per packet. He said that any profession done with honesty is bound to give success. “A profession is never big or small. If one does it with sincerity and honesty, success will come and there will be enough money to maintain the family,” asserted Sashi.
Sashi is a native of Kabatbandha village in Jajpur district. His wife Saraswati and two daughters are the other members of his family. He earns approximately Rs 2,000 per month, but states it is enough.
Every month, he goes to his house once to take care of his family’s needs before returning to his profession once more.
“There are vermilion packets being sold by branded companies in shops and markets. But we are still swear by the sindoor Sashi sells,” states a couple of newlywed brides.
PNN
