At Mahabalipuram, by the Bay of Bengal, fishermen taking a break from the sea and playing cards around 4 p.m. on a Saturday.

Their day begins early, before sunrise, when they leave for the sea. They fish for a few hours (depending on the season), and it’s usually still morning when they return to the shore, where their catch will be auctioned by traders. The fishermen then go home, have a meal and sleep off their tiredness. Later, they return to the shore to fix the wear and tear of their nets. Once done for the day, they sit down to relax with a game of cards.

Rahul M.

Rahul M. is an independent journalist based in Andhra Pradesh, and a 2017 PARI Fellow.

Other stories by Rahul M.
Editor : Sharmila Joshi

Sharmila Joshi is former Executive Editor, People's Archive of Rural India, and a writer and occasional teacher.

Other stories by Sharmila Joshi