An 82-year-old man in Mumbai who spends 12 hours a day selling homemade farsan on the roadside has touched hearts online after a woman shared his story and urged people to support his small business.
The story was shared in a now-viral Instagram video by Mumbai-based content creator Aradhana Chatterjee, who described how she noticed the elderly vendor quietly arranging packets of snacks on a footpath and decided to stop and speak to him.
In the video, Chatterjee introduced the man as Mansukh Kaka, an 82-year-old who now sells homemade snacks to support himself and his family. She explained that he had spent most of his life working as a salesperson at a saree shop, but lost his job after falling ill during the Covid-19 pandemic. His son, she said, had to leave his own job to take care of him.
After recovering, Mansukh Kaka decided to start a small roadside stall near his home. According to Chatterjee, he now sits there for nearly 12 hours every day, patiently waiting for customers.
The video featured several snippets of the elderly man tending to his stall, interacting with customers and carefully arranging boxes filled with homemade snacks. Containers packed with around 20 varieties of khakra, chakli and other farsan items could be seen lined up neatly on the footpath.
Chatterjee explained that all the snacks are freshly prepared at home by Mansukh Kaka’s sister before being packed and brought to the stall. Despite the long hours, she revealed that he typically earns only around Rs 300 a day.
One clip showed the octogenarian diligently recording every sale and expense in a small diary, a habit that left many viewers impressed.
“Even at this age, Mansukh Kaka is trying his best to run his stall with so much passion and hardwork, let’s all come together to support him,” Chatterjee wrote in the caption, adding that she would share the location of his stall for those who wished to visit.
Watch the video here:
The video drew a flood of reactions from social media users, with many saying they admired how neatly dressed and professional the elderly vendor appeared, noting that his tucked-in shirt and disciplined approach reflected his determination and dignity.
Others shared that they had met Mansukh Kaka in person and described him as an exceptionally sweet and kind-hearted man, encouraging fellow Mumbaikars to buy from him whenever possible.
Several users also asked for details about where he sets up his stall, saying they wanted to visit and support him by purchasing his homemade snacks.
Many viewers said Mansukh Kaka’s perseverance and work ethic at the age of 82 served as a reminder that dignity and determination can shine through even in the most difficult circumstances.
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