A sweet seller who resides at an otherwise nondescript village near here and hawks around in different areas is equally known for his lip-smacking items as well as the “mode of transport”.

Ranjit Pal, a sexagenarian from Maharajpur, reaches his customers while riding “Laltu,” his pet horse.

“Since my childhood, I had longed for a horse and eventually, bought one. It might sound a little extraordinary for a person like me who runs his family on his daily earnings. But I went ahead and got it around six years back. I had to part with Rs 20,000. Since then, whenever I go out to sell the sweets and snacks which I make or even to marketplaces to make purchases, I ride my horse,” said Ranjit.

His movement on the horseback draws many buyers, particularly children, as he rides through hamlets, offering a variety of sweets and dry snacks.

Mounted Ranjit Pal. Kousik Sen

“Many people love the food I sell but some come to see the horse. In earlier years, I used to walk around villages and would shout like other hawkers to draw customers. But ever since I started riding Laltu, I no longer need to shout as people come out hearing the trotting,” said Ranjit.

Back home, Ranjit lives with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. He is the sole earner of the family and others help him make the sweets and snacks.

Last year, as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the nation, the hawker’s earnings had depleted. On one hand, he could not go out because of the lockdown. On the other hand, even after the lockdown was eased, a major section of people did not turn up to buy sweets from him, fearing infection.

Many neighbours had suggested then that he sell the horse.

“They told us that we could make some money during distress. However, we decided not to part with it and somehow managed to arrange for fodder for it like the way we managed two square meals for us. He is like a family member for us,” Shilpi, Ranjit’s wife said.

The horse, Ranjit said, also provides him with a “cheap mode of transport”.

“It is not possible for me to buy a motorcycle. At this age, I cannot cover the area that I move around in on a bicycle. All Laltu needs is some fodder……. I want to continue riding with him as long as possible,” said Pal.