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Cauliflower Mountain, Cockfights, and Weddings: Writing for Cents (Literally)

This morning in Jamshedpur, India.

Tooth Truth Roopa Vikesh
3 min readJan 17, 2025
Piles of carrots and cauliflower being sold on the side of a street. This picture has been taken from a car. The vendor wears a hoodie, while a passer by wears a loincloth and a shirt.
Vegetables being sold on the side of the street in Jamshedpur, India. Author’s image.

This morning in Jamshedpur, India, I came across an unusual sight — a towering stack of cauliflowers by the roadside. When I returned later to pick up my daughter from school, the pile had dwindled to a much smaller heap.

The vegetable market square is currently being paved, so vendors have moved to the streets. My daughter took some photos for me to share with you, sending a little sunshine from India to those enduring colder climes.

A woman in a shawl and sari bends over, looking at vegetables. The vendor holds up a traditional scale balance. Another vendor with a checkered towel on his head looks to his left at a bag of goods.
Author’s image.

One vendor was holding an old-fashioned balance — like the scales of justice, but literal. I know there’s a metaphor in there, for how our words on Medium are no longer worth the paper they aren’t written on, but I’m gonna let it go.

There are 13 people in this frame. A man in a kurta pajama buys fruit from a vendor in a muffler and hoodie. Another vendor in a fake red Adidas hoodie sells grain. Scooters and motorcycles line a street on the side.
Author’s image.

Some of these sellers have a medium-sized table for their wares, a chair to sit on and and an electronic balance, while others peddle their substantial stacks of wares from a tarpaulin…

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Tooth Truth Roopa Vikesh
Tooth Truth Roopa Vikesh

Written by Tooth Truth Roopa Vikesh

I don’t just create smiles, I inspire them! Dentist, mom—Jamshedpur, India.

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