‘Mumbai has given me, my family an identity’

Three generations of Sanjay Singh’s family, originally from Uttar Pradesh, have run a juice stall at Fort area in Mumbai.

“What I like about Mumbai is its summer, and that its winters are not extreme, because that is best for my business,” says Sanjay Singh, 39, who runs a juice stall on a footpath at Fort.

Sanjay Ratan Singh loves Mumbai summers because they are good for his juice selling business at Fort. (HT Photo)

His stall is frequented by office-goers in the original business district of the city.

“Mumbai has given me an identity. In fact, it has given my entire family its identity,” he adds. Three generations of Singhs have run this juice stall, over the past 70 years.

Sanjay’s grandfather came to the city in the 1950s from Uttar Pradesh, and began selling nimboo paani on the street.

His eldest son took over the business, which was passed on to Sanjay’s father, and then to him.

“Ours is one of the few licenced stalls at Fort,” he says proudly.

“We first got a license in 1967, and I make sure to renew it on time, so that there is no trouble with the authorities.”

Honesty and hard work pay off in Mumbai, he adds.

“I don’t get into trouble. I pay my taxes. My family even owns a small room in this area now.”

On a sunny day, Sanjay makes between ₹500 and ₹700 in profits. “The Mumbai weather suits my business well,” he says. “There is nothing about this city that I don’t like.”

(This story is part of a series Moving Images that celebrates the city of Mumbai through its people.)