City mustard oil mill preserves Gandhian ideals
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Ranchi: A shop-cum-mustard oil mill in capital's bustling Main Road area, which might be easily overlooked due to its modest appearance, stands as a living testament to India's freedom movement.
Shyam Kishor Sahu established Gramudyog Bhandar in 1938 in response to Mahatma Gandhi's call to revive small-scale industries and promote self-reliance. At a time when imported goods dominated Indian markets, the mill churned out mustard oil, becoming both a source of livelihood and a symbol of the Swadeshi movement. Shyam ran the shop for 61 years, until his death in 1999.
Since then, Shyam's son Narayan Prasad Sahu has been running the shop.
"In 1934, Gandhiji called for re-establishing small industries across the country so that Indians get an opportunity to earn their livelihood. He set up a mustard oil mill in Wardha as an example. Disciples of Gandhi, my parents stayed at his Wardha ashram for years. My father returned to Ranchi and established the mill in 1938. As India celebrated its 79th Independence Day on Friday, the shop stands tall as a symbol of courage, patriotism, and ideals that dreamt of a free nation," septuagenarian Narayan, who is a physician, said.
A plaque bearing Gandhi's wishes adorns the walls of the shop. During his visit to present-day Jharkhand to attend the 1940 session of the Indian National Congress held in Ramgarh, Gandhi stopped by the store and penned on a piece of paper, 'Iss Bhandar ki unnati ho' (May this store prosper), a message that continues to echo the shop's golden past.
Shyam was jailed several times by the British, but his commitment to serve the country remained undeterred. "The shop was never just about selling oil. My father used the profits to support the movement, funding meetings, rallies, and helping fellow freedom fighters. Steeped in history, our shop aims to uphold and nurture Gandhi's ideals. I strive to preserve my father's legacy without altering its essence. The only change is that where bulls once churned the oil, machines have taken their place," Narayan said.
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