Bal Ram, an 80-year-old vendor, holds the distinction of being the oldest market vendor in Suva.
Born and raised in Bemana, Nadroga, his roots trace back to Nepal through his grandfather, who settled on the outskirts of Navua.
He is the oldest of eight siblings, making him the big brother who watched over his family while growing up.
“My grandfather settled in Navua and farmed there. When my father grew up, he moved to Bemana to farm,” he said.
When Mr Ram was just 16 years old he too followed in the footsteps of both his predecessors and began farming.
He worked hard planting and growing fruits and vegetables in the fields. He continued from his father in Bemana, where he spent a lot of time farming and selling his produce in Sigatoka.
People were happy to buy his tasty fruits and vegetables. “Growing up, farming was the only thing I knew,” Bal said.
“So when I was big enough, it became a source of income for me and later for my own family.”
“But I didn’t stop there. I also grew tobacco leaves (suki).”
This brought him more success and helped him support his family.
Over time, he slowly drifted away from the life of farming and ventured into becoming a middleman.
He bought products from farmers and sold them to other people. I saw a new way of business and I went for it.”
In Suva, he now sells kava and suki at the market.
“I used to farm a lot in Bemana and would sell my produce in Sigatoka, but after a while, I came to Suva and saw the demand for farm produce and kava here.”
Mr Ram said he travels to different farmers in Kadavu, Levuka, and Koro to buy kava and produce.
“This way, I offer a variety to the Suva market and my customers have plenty to choose from.
“Even though I moved away from farming, I still sell suki from my farm in Bemana.
It’s like keeping a piece of my past close to me.
“I live in Suva now, but I still have the farm in Bemana, which reminds me a lot of my younger days.”
Mr Ram lives in Suva with his daughter, who helps him at the market.
She is his right-hand and makes sure everything runs smoothly.
As a middleman, Bal was able to fend for his family and raised his children to pursue their own ambitions.
One of his sons owns an Information Technology company in Lami.
“My daughter assists me daily at the market, as I cannot do it by myself anymore, but I will never stop coming to the market for business because it’s something I grew up doing.”
Mr Ram is a respected figure at the Suva market, admired by customers and fellow vendors alike.
His journey from a young farmer to a seasoned market seller is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of staying connected to your roots.
