Rajkumari Devi: Breaking Cycles and Commoning Livelihoods
71 years old
Anandpur Village, Saraiya Block, Muzaffarpur District, Bihar
Rajkumari Devi, affectionately known as “Kisan Chachi” or “Cycle Chachi,” has become a symbol of endurance, innovation, and collective agency. From a small-scale farmer to a successful entrepreneur and community leader, Rajkumari Devi’s life and work testify to the power of improving local livelihoods through collective entrepreneurship. Her path to empowerment was not easy. Entrenched patriarchal norms - an early marriage,
the pressure to bear male children - shaped her early adulthood. Yet, it was precisely these challenges that fueled her determination to bring about change.
Starting with half an acre of arid land, Rajkumari Devi transformed her modest plot into a thriving agricultural enterprise. “We did not have much then, just a piece of land,” she recalls. “But I started working on our land and told my husband, “Let’s do it together.” This simple decision would mark the beginning of a small collectivising revolution, giving women in the region a voice and opportunity to become a power to reckon with.
“Growing grains would yield income in six months, but growing vegetables would yield income in two months,” she realised. She began to process her farm’s produce - carrots, tomatoes, mangoes - into home-made pickles, then sold them locally. As her products
gained popularity, she expanded her range. To scale up her operations, Rajkumari set up a non-profit organisation that sources fresh produce from various farms run by SHGs.
It is not that we do this all alone. We do it together, with our families and with each other.
Today, ‘Kisan Chachi Ka Achar’ boasts 23 varieties of jams and pickles, sold not only in local markets but also in metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Delhi, as well as online.
Rajkumari’s commitment to commoning the traditional knowledge around farming and pickle making, strengthened with ingenious local innovations, has earned her the nickname ‘Cycle Chachi’. She would pedal from village to village, sharing her knowledge of agricultural techniques and the pickle business model. “I would tell women that sitting idle won’t do. You need to pick yourselves up and start working,” she says.
Rajkumari has supported more than 300 women from SHGs, enabling them to engage in integrated farming and agri-business. These women access capital for their farms through bank loans and government support and run thriving collective enterprises. Rajkumari Devi’s contributions to agriculture and rural entrepreneurship have earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Kisan Shree Award. In 2019, her lifelong dedication to transforming rural livelihoods and empowering women was recognised at the highest level when she was conferred with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours.
It was through farming that she found her voice and her purpose, leveraging her knowledge to uplift women in her community. Recognising the potential of women in agriculture, she spearheaded initiatives to train and empower them. “We train all the women. Then these women train other women,” she emphasises, highlighting the ripple effect of empowerment that she helped catalyse.
Kisan Chachi’s story is about more than pickles or farming techniques: cycling from village to village, sharing her experiences and training and organising women, her actions are a shining example of commoning and collective strength. Women in the region have built a collective path to economic independence through agriculture and food processing.
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