Since ages, Indians are known for their affinity to music. Be it vocal or instrumental music, the country has produced maestros in every genre.
The steel city does not lag behind when it comes to music aficionados and connosseuirs, but the enthusiasm has dimmed a little influencing the sale of instruments. Once a market hub, the steel city is gradually losing its touch with the world of music.
There is still hope, as some shops still carry on with their trade, much to the pleasure of music lovers.
Musical Emporium (Bistupur) ? Located in the heart of the Bistupur market, this shop has been into the business for about five decades now. Here one can get the harmonium, tabla and both the Spanish and Hawaiian guitar.
Aloke Bose, the owner, says: ?Sale has dipped these days. The guitar is the only instrument that is still popular, otherwise craze for muscial instruments have gone down,? he says. The owners may also get instruments on order from Calcutta within a period of 15 days. Address: Line No. 16, Bistupur Market, Jamshedpur-831001,
Nandi Brothers (Sakchi) ? For decades, this shop is famous for its collection of drama costumes and musical instruments. Though sales have dipped, but this is one shop where one can get a variety of musical instruments. Starting from the very common the tabla and the harmonium, to lesser known naal, dholak, flute, dafli and manjira, everything is available.
Unlike other shops, here the owners do not take down orders for getting the instruments from elsewhere.
Srimonto Nandi, owner of the shop, however, agrees with others: ?Earlier, sales were good. But these days, only a hand full of people are still buying musical instruments from the city.?
Address: Nandi Brothers, Sakchi Market, Jamshedpur-831001.
Mohan Harmonium Service Centre ? This is perhaps the oldest instrument shop in the city. Located at Sarkar building, near Sakchi, the condition of the shop tells a tragic tale of a dying business.
Once, you enter, however, there is almost a musical treasure trove awaiting every lover of music.
This shop also repairs old instruments. The goods are brought from Calcutta, and one can get everything from drums, guitars, harmonium to flutes. Owner Shashti Poddar says: ?These days it?s only the orchestra people and students who buy musical instruments, otherwise there are are hardly any takers.?
Address-Sarkar Building, Sakchi Jamshedpur. Roadside 1
Rhapsody?Though not known to many, but a handfull of people who sell tabla and other percussion instruments in Sakchi have quite an interesting tale to tell.
They come from Patamda block, about 25 kms from the city, and sell the instruments on the roadside, close to the Bhola Maharaj shop in Sakchi. The traders come from villages where instrument making has been a traditional business for decades. Their association with the steel city dates back to the the pre-Independence era.
?This is our family business. In fact, every family in the village is into making the instruments, but somehow the sale is not as good as it used to be,? says Badal Das, one of the vetran sellers who has been coming to sell his products for almost 35 years now.
These people come only on Sundays and on Mondays they can be contacted only till the afternoon.
Nilanjana Ghosh Choudhury
