My native place is in Tamil Nadu. I am married with four children, two girls and two boys. We shifted to Bangalore in search of a better life. I have been in this city for two years now. What I like most about the city is the fact that I get to earn more money than I would in my village.
I have been a coconut vendor for a year. Before that, I was a housewife. I took up this job because I had to support my husband and provide for my children. I enjoy this job. I learned how to cut coconuts on my own. It is a skill that I picked up slowly, and now I am an expert in it. My coconut stall is in Kormangala sixth block. It’s convenient for me as I stay nearby, in Rajendra Nagar, near the Passport Office.
My day starts at eight in the morning and ends by about nine or ten at night. The coconuts are brought by tempo trucks that come from outside Bangalore to the city and we buy the coconuts. We buy small ones for Rs. 15 and big ones for Rs. 20 and sell them for Rs. 20 and Rs. 25, respectively.
I want my children to be well provided for, and this job helps me to fulfil that dream. I speak Tamil, know a little bit of Kannada, and know enough Hindi to get by. I am a quiet person. I behave in a pleasant manner with my customers. Every kind of customer, from school and college students, young working professionals and families buy coconuts from me. I find the people of Bangalore to be courteous and they keep to themselves. They don’t bother with other people’s affairs.
Coconut water is healthy and delicious. It will always be popular despite the increasing number of cold drinks coming into the market everyday.
(I am is a weekly column about men and women who make Bangalore what it is)
