Running a brewpub isn’t easy- it’s a lot of work, a lot of sweat and the occasional tears.

There are a lot of good, earnest people working behind the scenes, who put in a great deal of effort, round-the-clock, to ensure that everything you love about Toit stays that way.

And these people are none other than our never-tiring, ever-inspiring staff.

Our very own Toit Army- a battalion dedicated to the cause of good beer!

Say hello to our Senior Steward Minmin, who has been with us from the very start!

I know your nickname is Minmin, but what is your whole name?

My full name is Ginminthang Thomsong, but it’s really long so you can call me Minmin.

When did you join Toit?

I joined in December, 2010. Right from the beginning.

What were you doing before that?

Before that, I was in Manipur.

Where in Manipur are you from?

Motbung, in the Kangpokpi district. There are about 2000 houses there.

 

And what language do you speak?

Thadou. It’s a tribal language. Like Kuki is the clan, and Thadou is the tribe.

Do you have a word for beer in Thadou?

*laughs* The word for alcohol is Ju, but pronounced ‘zou’.

How come you decided to come to Bangalore?

Actually, I came here for my studies. But there were some financial problems, and as the eldest of the family, I started working.

So this is the first job you’ve ever done?

Yes!

How did you end up hearing about Toit?

It’s funny actually.

My friend had an interview and he asked me to go with him, just to drop him.

I was planning to go back to Manipur, so I had not applied for a job. But I came here, and I spoke to Nisha Madam. She asked me to bring my resume and to start coming from the next day.

What about your friend?

He also got the job, but he left after two months. And I stayed for eight years.

When you started working here, what did you join as?

I started working as the Assistant Steward, then I became the Junior Steward and about one year ago, I became Senior Steward.

What is a typical work day like?

We have two shifts.

The morning shift starts at 11:30 am. On those days I wake up at 10:30, because my room is very close by, just fifteen minutes by walk.

I wake up and prepare breakfast. But sometimes I don’t eat breakfast and just come here straight.

Once we reach here, we have a five minutes briefing. After that, we set up everything like wiping the tables and filling up all the cutlery. At 12pm, we open and once the guests start coming we take their orders and make sure the customers are satisfied.

At 3:30 pm we go for a break, I go back to my room and cook my lunch, take rest for one and half hours, come back and stay till closing, which is usually till 12:30 am.

On weekends, I am here till 1:00 am.

What is the difference between your responsibility as a Senior Steward and Junior Steward?

For a Junior Steward, you are usually just helping the Senior Steward. But the work is the same. We take care of the stations and customers. The main thing is that the customers should be happy.

Your off-day is on Tuesday right? What do you do on those days?

On my off-day, I wake up at 12:00 pm and wash my clothes, clean my room, and finish the cooking for the day.

Then at 2:30 pm I go to church, the Kuki Worship Service, which is Kothanur. By the time I get back, it is close to 6:00 pm.

After I come back, I stay at home only.  I don’t like going out.

Do you stay alone?

I stay with my cousin brother. He is studying, doing his degree in St. Joseph’s College.

When you’re not working, what do you enjoy spending your time doing?

I love watching television shows!

Game of Thrones is one of my favourites.

Who is your favourite character from the series?

That character played by Kit Harrington…John Snow!

It’s been nine years since you moved here. What do you miss about Manipur the most?

I go back home once every year, for a month. How do I say this? Like the saying goes, Manipur is ‘home-sweet-home’.

But there aren’t so many opportunities to make money there, so I moved here.

How have the nine years here been?

I feel like Bangalore is my second home. Till now, it has been almost ten years, I have not had any troubles at all. I feel safe.

And Toit for eight years now!

Toit is like my third home. Everyone here, the staff and Management, are like my family. The Management supports us a lot, and I enjoy every day over here.