Makhana’s Bitter Harvest: Bihar’s Divers Bleed For The 'Makhana' That Sparkles Globally But Weighs Like Stone At Home

In Bihar’s snake-filled ponds, the Mallah community, including children like 12-year-old Angaj, dive for makhana seeds, earning a mere ₹40/kg amidst cuts, stings, and scars. This kala pathar—black stone—transforms into a billion-rupee superfood, fetching ₹1,400/kg in export markets. From backbreaking harvests to family-run popping units and manipulative traders, makhana’s journey is shaped by global forces like U.S. tariffs and local struggles. While entrepreneurs like Raushan Kumar defy the odds with a ₹50–60 lakh business, harvesters remain trapped in a cycle of poverty. When will Bihar’s black diamond shine for those who pull it from the mud?