Russel Market: Vendors recover pandemic losses

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Russell Market, one of Bengaluru’s oldest marketplaces, is slowly returning to its pre-pandemic popularity. For those who are particular about choosing the freshest meat, vegetables and fruits, a morning trip to the market is the best option. Russell Market is already choc-a-bloc with shoppers and traders – business is brisk.

The heritage market boasts some of the largest collections of exotic fruits, from Australian Pears to kiwis from New Zealand, Dragon Fruit and Litchis from Thailand. They have their own loyal customer base, people who have been visiting regularly for decades. While much has changed in the city in the last two decades, the old clock tower, stone pillars and the market building itself are all reminiscent of a time gone by.

Ajeeza Ahmad fruit shopkeeper said that “We have a variety of fruits to sell but keeping the prices affordable has always been a priority. The lockdown caused huge losses because people couldn’t go out to shop for groceries. We are slowly beginning to recover our losses.”

One patron has been coming to the market for fifteen years. “There is more variety here when compared to other markets in the city. They are also affordable,” he said. Another regular customer comes to the market to buy dates and almonds. “I like chatting with other customers, to find out what they’re buying and if they’re happy with their purchases.”

At the famous meat market, butchers are at work before sunrise and calls echo from the fish stalls, where live catch like lobsters and giant crabs are placed on tables. This is the place for the connoisseur of meat. Preesheela has been coming here for fresh meat for the last twelve years. “This is the best place to buy meat. The quality is outstanding and the prices are excellent,” she says.

It is an important part of the city’s heritage but needs more attention from authorities. Shopkeepers who have stalls at the back of the building have asked BBMP to give them better lighting. There is also pending drain work that authorities have not yet fixed.

In this battle to preserve Russell Market, Mohammed Idrees Choudhury, the secretary of the association, leads from the front. His association with the place goes back generations – he inherited his shop from his father, who in turn got it from his forefathers.

“Russell Market as a separate entity was created in 1927 and has grown to housing 400 stalls. We get fresh produce from nearby areas, bought directly from farmers. Most of the traders have been here for generations,” said Idrees. “Many fish merchants use the available water to tend to different varieties of fish. It’s an important part of the city and centrally located but does lack basic facilities. We need proper toilets, garbage bins and security guards.”

Contributed by M.S.Kavyashri and Shreya B.R