From Betel Leaves to Bestsellers: The Inspiring Tale of Kolkata’s Literary Paanwala

Image Source: Better India

Amidst the congested streets of Behala, in the midst of the urbanscape's chaos where the aroma of paan pervades, there is a small paan shop with an incredible tale to tell. His name is Pintu Pohan — a paanwala by profession, but an author at heart
.

Major Takeaways of an Unlikely Author

Pintu Pohan authored 12 Bengali books, all while he ran his own paan shop.
His works range from poetry, short fiction, and reflections on society, all grounded firmly in his experience.
Pintu never let hardship extinguish his writing fire despite having spent his childhood in the impoverished, swampy Madanmohantala locality.

A Childhood of Hunger, A Heart Full of Words

Pintu grew up poor and often went to bed not knowing when he would eat again.
Without any sort of formal literary training, he began writing as a means of coping and expressing his feelings.
He devoted his early life to writing poetry on scraps of paper between serving customers.

The Stall That Became a Sanctuary

His paan stall today is not just a business — it's a cultural nook where books intersect livelihood.
Customers typically depart with a book as well as their paan, drawn by the gentle allure of the man behind the counter.

A Message Beyond the Page

Pintu's journey is a true testament to the strength of determination and the power of storytelling.
He hopes to inspire other oppressed groups to speak out and share their stories.

Source: The Better India.

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From Betel Leaves to Bestsellers: The Inspiring Tale of Kolkata’s Literary Paanwala

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