At 77, Makhan Das continues ironing clothes at Kalyanpur market, battling rising costs, charcoal scarcity, and irregular power supply. His story highlights rural poverty, dignity of labor, and the resilience of India’s aging working-class citizens.
In the busy motor stand of Kalyanpur market, where honking rickshaws compete with smartphone chatter and modern storefronts glow in neon light, 77-year-old Makhan Das continues a quiet routine that has defined his life for over four decades. Beneath a modest tin shed, his hands—lined with age and experience—carefully guide a heavy charcoal iron over stacks of clothing, releasing curls of steam into the humid air.
His small stall bears the name “Sabita Laundry,” a tribute to his late wife. The signboard, slightly faded, stands as both a business identity and a deeply personal memory. In a marketplace rapidly embracing modernization, Makhan’s traditional method of ironing feels like a relic of another time. Yet for him, it is not nostalgia—it is survival.
Born in Kacharitala village under Dwarikapur Panchayat, Makhan began working at a very young age to support his family. Poverty was not an abstract concept but a daily reality. He recalls a time when he earned just 25 paise per garment. Even then, the small earnings were enough to keep hunger at bay. Today, he charges ten rupees per piece, but the rising cost of rice, cooking oil, medicines, and other essentials leaves him struggling to maintain a basic livelihood.
Although he receives a government social allowance meant to support senior citizens, Makhan admits that the amount is insufficient. The financial assistance barely covers his essential needs, forcing him to continue working despite his advanced age. “As long as my body allows, I will continue ironing clothes,” he says with calm determination. For him, labor is not merely about income—it is about dignity.
However, the challenges he faces are growing more severe. Charcoal, the lifeline of his traditional iron, has become increasingly scarce and expensive. What was once readily available in local markets now requires additional effort and higher costs to procure. Without charcoal, his work comes to a standstill.
Switching to an electric iron might appear to be a logical solution. Yet Makhan explains that unreliable power supply, frequent outages, and high electricity bills make this option impractical. Technical glitches and voltage fluctuations further complicate matters. As a result, delays in delivering clothes to customers have started affecting his daily earnings, adding another layer of uncertainty to his already fragile income.
Local residents often stop by not just to drop off clothes but to exchange a few words of encouragement. Many see him as a symbol of perseverance and hard work. They believe that stronger government intervention and more effective welfare schemes could help ease the burden on elderly workers like him. Community members argue that in the twilight years of life, individuals should not have to endure physically demanding labor simply to afford food and medicine.
Makhan Das’s life story reflects a broader reality faced by countless rural working-class individuals across the country. Amid headlines about infrastructure projects and economic growth, stories like his remain largely unnoticed. His resilience, however, speaks volumes about the human spirit.
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Wrinkles may have deepened across his face, but none appear in his work. Each carefully pressed garment carries not just smooth fabric, but the enduring imprint of discipline, faith, and unyielding self-respect.
