When you all hear the word farmer, an image comes to your mind of a man working in the fields. But to your surprise, today I am going to tell you all the story of a lady farmer. A farmer from Bihar and this lady is well known as Kisan Chachi. Her name is Rajkumari Devi.
Rajkumari Devi is an Indian farmer, from Anandpur village located in Saraiya block of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar. She was born in a poor family. Due to poverty, she could not complete her matriculate. She got married at an early age (at the age of 15). In 1974, she was married to Awadhesh Kumar Choudhary in a family of farmers. After her marriage she completed her matriculate. But because of financial problem , Rajkumari Devi did not pursue her higher studies.
 |
| Kisan Chachi (Rajkumari Devi) |
As a women, her life was becoming hell due to taunts from her in-laws , as even after many years of her marriage, she did not bear a child. They got separated from the family with 2.5 acres of land. Running her house became difficult as they were left with very little money.
At a time when women in Bihar were just thought to be a housewife only, she decided to step out of house to help her family and husband. She decided to work so that she could afford to send her son to school and for a better living too.
For Rajkumari Devi it was not that easy. She faced a lot of problems in her way, from people around her making fun, taunting her to humiliating her for working. But she ignored the society taunts and moved ahead. She took the plunge for her family.
Rajkumari devi was supported by her husband. She took the shovel and helped her husband in agriculture. Her husband only knew how to grow tobacco leaves. He was tobacco leaves i.e chewing tobacco seller (Khaini seller) . And for few years they grew tobacco leaves only.
 |
| Rajkumari Devi with her husband |
Growing tobacco leaves didn't worked well for them. Then Rajkumari devi, akka Kisan Chachi went to Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa. She got herself trained. She also went to other Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
She started applying her knowledge on the resources available to her i.e her 1 acre land. She divided her land into various sections and grew multiple fruits and vegetables. After gaining perfection in agriculture , she began growing papaya and suran (oal) in her fields. Rajkumari Devi then tried her hands in pickle and murabba making. She made floor and pickle of suran , and starting selling it in village markets. This cost her lesser investment and resources.
 |
| Rajkumari Devi on her cycle |
As her experiment showed positive result , she decided to expand her business. But the only means of transport available to her was cycle. She learnt cycling and paddled her pickles to fairs. She cycled to other villages to sell her products, and also started home-to-home delivery. From here Rajkumari Devi got the title Cycle Chachi. Through this people of her village recognized her.
When the other women of her village got to know about her, they wanted to join her. They approached her . She taught them the skills and shared her experience with them. She then parallely started making all women's self-help groups, which helped in employing many unprivileged women. She employed women to make agro-based products.
Cycle chachi now became an inspiration for thousands of women. As her name growed people gave her the title of KISAN CHACHI.
Achievements:
Kisan Chachi work was recognised by then Chief Minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav. He awarded her in the agricultural fair held in the year 2003.
In the year 2007, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar felicitated her with the 'Kisan Shri' award .
In year 2019, she was awarded with India's fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind.
 |
| Receiving the Padma Shri award |
Her pickles have not only tickled the buds of chief ministers of Bihar. But also our Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who invited her to Vibrant Gujarat-2013.
She also starred in one of the episodes of "Aaj ki raat hai zindagi" on Kaun Banega Crorepati ,hosted by superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
Life after this:
After these accolades , Rajkumari Devi gained her respect in her village. The people who had boycotted her for doing so -assumed man's job , could not stop their praises for her. The people's loathe towards her was replaced by love and admiration.
In her praise a women says-"She changed our life.Now we are not bound only to the household chores,but we also sell our homemade products. The feeling of independence is priceless gift given to us by Kisan Chachi".
Also now, her cycle is replaced by a scooty, but still she has the same zeal of learning and growing and helping others.
 |
| Kisan Chachi on her scooty |
Currently:
The 64 year old Kisan Chachi (Rajkumari Devi) is busy with her business of cottage industry, but she is thinking about installing machines for packing the pickles. She is being helped by her son, Amrendra Kumar Choudhary.
She has evolved as a brand -Kisan Chachi .By doing organic farming and then doing the business with it ,her products are now exported overseas.
Conclusion:
Rajkumari Devi is an inspiration. She broke the stereotype. She is not only a smart farmer, teacher, social worker but also a smart business woman. She has proved that women too can be a good farmer. Together they can lead a good business of their own.
Following the demand of today's world and keeping the pace, her brand is designing a website of Kisan Chachi from where you can buy her delicious pickles of more than 16 varieties .
Kisan Chachi is true example of -"It's never too late to start what you want to do".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To read my other posts click on the links given below:-
Share these posts so that people could know about them #Our Ann_daaata (food provider).
Wow
ReplyDeleteThank you
Delete👍🏼👍🏼
ReplyDeleteWaao so inspiring 👌🏽great work
ReplyDeleteThank you miss Kritika.
Delete👍👍
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteWelcome
DeleteVery nice
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteCreativity story, very good
ReplyDeleteGood job
ReplyDeletewhere much appreciated..
ReplyDeleteThis the the Kisan chachi, she should be appreciated. If you get a chance then buy her pickles, that's fantastic.
Delete