“I have a distinct memory of my grandmother taking me to the kitchen and teaching me how to make Jonna (jowar) rotis. I was 6-years-old. For the Banjara community, these rotis are staple and women are taught to perfect the art of making these round rotis right from their childhood. It’s the perfect food for a healthy lifestyle. Now that diabetes and high blood pressure have become common health issues, people are increasingly opting for jowar rotis. My husband and I decided to make the best of this. We’re good at making these rotis – so what’s a better business than selling them? We sell about 200 rotis a day and that gets us sufficient money to make a living.

This is an ancestral tradition but every generation adapts to newer changes. Unlike our parents and grandparents, my husband and I don’t indulge in farming. We are into this business – however small it is. We make it on wood fire – even more authentic and healthy. I Iearnt that from my mother, who would mostly spend her time in the kitchen. But I want to go out and use my skills to earn money for my family. My husband and I are a team – equally important halves. We work hard to feed our children.

Selling jowar rotis is not just a business but it’s also promoting our culture and age-old healthy eating habits. We have moved a step forward but we’ve not forgotten our roots.”