3 Childhood memories of Repair

The tools (औज़ार ) 

Photo:(Repair Cafe Bengaluru)

He had a set of tools, assortment of screws, nails, bolts, leftover strands of wires, old tapes and so on. It was kept in a small aluminium box which he painted with a motif of an elephant. On holiday at home, he could be seen repairing his old cooler or fixing a switch. Many times I observed his obsession for repairing and keeping household things, not buying new ones. That was my father.

The Cobbler (मोची)

Photo:(Repair Cafe Bengaluru)

I grew up in a middle class neighbourhood where I visited a cobbler to repair my shoes, bags, belts and so on. Many would hardly notice her. She would be seen under a makeshift shade of an old, torn plastic supported by wooden pegs. She sits on a footpath surrounded with tools, shoes, scraps etc. She always has company. She talks and works.

The Bartanwali (बर्तनवाली)

Photo:(Times of India)

Old clothes were kept safely. When asked the answer was: kept to give away to the “bartanwali”.These are the ladies who as seen balancing steel utensils on their head while holding a child in their arm. A ball of clothes hanging on the shoulder. They would visit the homes and householders would get new utensil in exchange for old clothes. Entire kitchens were collected like that.

I still see these people in the streets. Do children today observe them? I like to stop and observe the legacy of repair culture in our Indian society which refuses to die.



-By Himadri Das and Purna Sarkar