Paan seller turned author: Kolkata man who runs a paan shop, has authored over 200 short stories, a dozen books!
Occasionally, extraordinary things happen in the most ordinary of places. Sometimes, a raging persistence, a dream nurtured over decades, and the goal to progress, influence the most inspiring journeys.
It's easy to assume success comes with privilege, but there are many people who rewrite their futures from scratch, with nothing more than hardwork and a will to succeed.
One such story comes from the streets of Kolkata, where a man behind a paan stall is doing something different, and far beyond what meets the eye. His journey reminds us that creativity doesn't require a perfect setting, just the right passion.
A writer in a pan shop
Pintu Pohan grew up in Madan Mohan Tala, near Behala Chowrasta, Kolkata, where poverty and hunger defined his early years.
'I would often sleep not knowing if I'd eat the next day,' he told The Telegraph India. Forced to leave school after Class 10, he worked various odd jobs, from factory helper to electrician, surviving while holding onto his passion for writing.
In 1998, with just ₹1,500 in savings, Pintu set up a tiny paan stall. It was here, amid the smell of supari and the din of Kolkata traffic, that he began writing seriously. 'When you want to do something, you will do it anyway.
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It is difficult to sit here and write, amidst the bazaar and the busy road. But I have done it all from here,' he said. Over years of dedication, he authored more than a dozen books, along with over 200 short stories and poems, many of which found space in esteemed Bengali magazines like Desh, Anandamela, Sananda, Suktara, and Nabakallol.
Despite being a published writer, the physical strain of long hours at the stall led to serious health issues, and sadly, he developed lumbar and cervical spondylitis.
Doctors advised six months of rest, but he persisted. Between holding the shop open late and attending computer and language classes, Pintu continued writing and selling paan, driven by responsibility toward his wife and two children.According to Better India, his first book, Parulmasir Chagalchana, was published in 2017.
Even COVID-19 hardships couldn't dim his spirit; he persisted through financial strain, ensuring his children stayed in school. 'I am grateful to social media and journalists because of whom people now know my story,' he said, hoping to gain wider recognition for his literary work.
Pintu Pohan
Pintu's story shows that writing profoundly does not require fame, wealth, or a sleek desk, it requires heart, will, and daily dedication.
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