Between Hammer Blows and Hope
Under the harsh afternoon sun in Lucknow, Munna Lal, a grinding stone artisan, bends over his work with rhythmic persistence. With every strike of his hammer on stone, he shapes not just a tool—but a way forward.
For Munna, this isn’t just a job. It’s a craft handed down generations in his family, rooted in the traditions of the Kanjad community—a nomadic group known for its stonework.
The Lockdowns That Broke Routine, But Not Resolve
The pandemic brought the family’s only source of livelihood to a grinding halt. Their small roadside business of selling grinding stones collapsed. And with it came immeasurable personal loss—Munna’s 12-year-old son passed away in May 2020.
“We didn’t even have enough cloth to bury him. An old Baba gave us something to use,” Munna recalls.
For months, Munna took up daily wage work when available, but nothing was sustained.
His wife, Sunita, began selling handmade wooden broomsticks in nearby villages—often with a child in her arms, walking several kilometres a day. Together, they managed just enough to put food on the table.
A Small Push, A Steady Return
But fate intervened again—the second lockdown hit.
Still, he didn’t stop. He adapted.
“I would hide a grinding stone in a bag and quietly go to sell it,” he says. “Sometimes we get grain instead of money—that sustains with ration.”
Sales were slower during monsoon and religious months, but he continued shaping stones and building connections in nearby villages.
Munna with grinding stones displayed for sale
More Than Tools — A Craft Anchored in Dignity
Munna and Sunita’s story is one of many where resilience is quiet, constant, and rooted in dignity. They didn’t seek aid—they adapted, endured, and reimagined their ancestral skills.
Their journey reminds us that recovery isn’t about large-scale transformation. Sometimes, it’s about restoring what’s already within reach, with just a little assistance.
Final Reflection
Munna Lal’s story is about more than economic survival—it’s about holding on to one’s roots, even when everything around you shifts.
Through sweat, loss, and strength, he carved a way back—not alone, but with quiet solidarity from those who listened and stood beside him.
Be a Part of Change
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