Revathi, 40, has a son, Senthil, 16, who failed 9th standard and will now go to religious school to follow in the footsteps of his father’s family. He will serve as a priest who conducts the pooja at a Hindu temple served by four generations of their family. Revathi's husband receives practically nothing for the sale of clay lamps that worshippers buy for the poor. During especially difficult times he lifted loads onto lorries (trucks) and Revathi made and sold snacks. They had to live in Revathi's grandfather’s house, and she could not continue to educate her two daughters, so she married them to close relatives, giving 10 sovereigns of gold for both their dowries.

In desperation, Revathi began buying bricks wholesale and selling retail on the street in front of the temple where her husband works. After four loans she now sells bricks, sand and gravel in bulk to local buyers and to middlemen who deliver to Middle Eastern countries. Revathi still supplements this business by doing tailoring and selling snacks she makes and sends them as far as Bangalore. Revathi wants to make the business more professional with a name, printed receipts, registration with the government and an official tax account.