Interview with Indra Jaswar

(Q1) INTERVIEWER: Ok, please introduce yourself.

(A1) INDRA JASWAR: My name is Indra Jaswar.

(Q2) INTERVIEWER: And what do you do?

(A2) INDRA JASWAR: I run a business at this shop and also study.

(Q3) INTERVIEWER: Ok, what kind of studying, which grade are you in?

(A3) INDRA JASWAR: At this time, I'm in the ninth grade.

(Q4) INTERVIEWER: Ok, and how old are you?

(A4) INDRA JASWAR: I'm about eighteen years old.

(Q5) INTERVIEWER: Ok, what kind of business do you run?

(A5) INDRA JASWAR: As far as my business goes, it's this very tea shop.

(Q6) INTERVIEWER: Great, and what's the name of this neighborhood?

(A6) INDRA JASWAR: This neighborhood's name is Daiganj , Daiganj, Arampur.

(Q7) INTERVIEWER: So do you know why it's called "Daiganj?"

CROWD: It's the neighborhood of the Dais, Chamar s. (another voice)

CROWD: Hey, he's asking the questions, and he'll give the answers.

(A7) INDRA JASWAR: Well, I don't know how or why Daiganj came to be.

(Q8) INTERVIEWER: Fine, but can you please tell me something about this village, is this village a historical place?

(A8) INDRA JASWAR: Yes, our Arampur is a historical place--the people who live here lead good lives. The farming here is very productive. The people here are able to eat and drink from their own hard work and they lead their lives with honor. The laborers here are unified. They don't beat or fight with anyone.

(Q9) INTERVIEWER: And what kind of country is India ?

(A9) INDRA JASWAR: Our India is a great country. A lot of people have come here from foreign countries. They become very happy when they see India . India is a very historical place. And there's a lot to look at, like the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort. Generally, the chief language here is Hindi . And from every place people come here to travel and sight see.

(Q10) INTERVIEWER: I don't know whether I asked you this earlier, but how many people are in your family?

(A10) INDRA JASWAR: There are six (sic) people in my family--there's my mother and there's my father but he is no more and there are we three brothers and four sisters.2 My brother also runs this shop.

(Q11) INTERVIEWER: And there's you.

(A11) INDRA JASWAR: And another brother lives outside the village.

(Q12) INTERVIEWER: Ok, great, fine. Who lives in this neighborhood?

(A12) INDRA JASWAR: Oh, different kinds of people, oh you mean who specifically lives in this neighborhood? Isn't only members of the Chaurasiya caste who live here?..A lot of different kinds of people live here--for example, there are Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, and Chamar s and Rahin Julaha, etc, they all live here.

(Q13) INTERVIEWER: And what's available at a tea shop?

(A13) INDRA JASWAR: At my tea shop you can get salty snacks, tea and bharfi, longlata, these are the special things available here. Bundiya is available here and gulab jamun s, etc.