Interview with P.R. Yadav

(Q1) INTERVIEWER: So, tell us something about yourself.

(A1) P. R. YADAV: My name is P. R. Yadav and I come from (Sarainya). This store is owned by Rajesh Yadav and I'm his "counter-man."

(Q2) INTERVIEWER: What do you sell here?

(A2) P. R. YADAV: I sell S.K.G. liquor here--and contract for this country liquor store is validated by the Government of Bihar. Those in Arampur who drink buy their liquor from here.

(Q3) INTERVIEWER: What kind of liquor?

(A3) P. R. YADAV: S.K.G.--the liquor's name is S.K.G.

(Q4) INTERVIEWER: Please tell us a little bit more--how's it made?

(A4) P. R. YADAV: Well, alcohol is mixed with measures of water--sixty proof--it's strength is sixty proof. This four hundred gram packet is sold for twenty rupees while the smaller two hundred gram packet sells for eleven rupees.

(Q5) INTERVIEWER: Who drinks liquor here? Does everyone?

(A5) P. R. YADAV: No, not everyone here drinks liquor. Here about thirty percent drink.

(Q6) INTERVIEWER: Rich and poor alike?

(A6) P. R. YADAV: Yep, rich and poor alike. But the poor drink more than the rich.

(Q7) INTERVIEWER: Men and women alike?

(A7) P. R. YADAV: The women around here don't drink. Only men drink around here--women don't.

(Q8) INTERVIEWER: What's the name of this particular locality?

(A8) P. R. YADAV: This locality is called "Sonhatiya."

(Q9) INTERVIEWER: Please tell us something about that picture behind you.

(A9) P. R. YADAV: That's a picture of the god Shankar --and we worship him in Hinduism, in the "eternal dharma"--it's a picture of him and we worship him--it's a picture of the god Shankar . The other ones--pictures that is--are of Ganesh-ji and Lakshmi-ji . The businessmen around here worship them especially-- Ganesh-ji and Lakshmi-ji .

(Q10) INTERVIEWER: How do you worship them? Do you perform arati ?

(A10) P. R. YADAV: Yes, we perform arati. You know incense--well, we burn it in the morning and the evening to worship them.

(Q11) INTERVIEWER: What's the goal of this worship?

(A11) P. R. YADAV: The goal is to increase our business and to increase our prosperity.

(Q12) INTERVIEWER: Could you please tell us a special story about this place.

(A12) P. R. YADAV: Well, this village Arampur is a historic place--the fort of the Raja Vicitra is still present here--by the abode of Shastri Brahm . People come to the abode of Shastri Brahm to worship and the king Raja Vicitra had his capital here. And to this day people worship Shastri Brahm. There is also Maqdum Saheb who is very well known and people worship him as well..That is to say, Arampur is a very ancient, historic place.