Navigating the crowd at Police Bazaar in Shillong is exasperating especially on a weekend. You might smirk then, what was I doing there if I found it so sapping? My answer would be, have you tried getting out of a promise made to a teenager who was tugging at your sleeve because she wanted to pick up trinkets? So I did what I do best in such situations, purse up my lips and go with the flow. Am I glad I did! For at the end of the road was a pleasant and novel surprise that had me going back to the spot.
The surprise came much later. First there were the cries to be disentangled from, to buy the luscious plums and starfruits or carambolas, and the various assorted stuff that the hawkers were pushing. Then there were the two strap sandals in many colours bought at Rs 100 per pair. Reminded me of college days when we picked them up for Rs 20 a pair. Both sides of the street were lined with string of vendors and behind them rows and rows of shops. And between them was a flow of human beings moving both directions, some abruptly stopping and impeding the momentum. It was no different from popular market places of cities.
We stopped at a shop displaying trinkets and realized we were in the wrong place for khasi jewellery. Someone suggested Leudah or Barabazar. But I had no patience or the inclination left to explore yet another market. And just as I lamented about trudging our way back all for naught, I recognized music entering my disturbed state. Long forgotten Hindi melodies blaring out of a speaker. Nothing amiss here. And then I noticed the source of it. A Tin Man!From Wizard Of Oz?
Hanging from a string was a grinning Tin Man with plastic containers, aluminium pots and steel bowls, ladles and plates for company. Steel ladles for limbs, a grater for the torso. spoons as eyes, a bowl for a hat to cover a skull for a face, it beckoned all with it's music, apparently belted out from the torch it was thrust with to act as a mic. It was at home with all the crowd milling around while its creator dusted his wares, readying them for customers.I stood there not believing my eyes while the crowd moved on without giving it a second glance. It must have been a regular sight for them. I was curious and watched it from every angle. "Where's the music coming from?" He pointed shyly at the taped rear of the tin man.
Jasbir Arora
Jasbir Arora who has been here for generations is a content man, making a comfortable sum selling his plastic, aluminium and steel utensils and containers. It was his idea to assemble his mascot out of the stuff he was selling. Sitting at home, one day he thought of creating something from the spoons and the ladles lying in his basket. One thing led to the other and soon he had a man fashioned out of the kitchen items. He then taped an 'ipod' to the back to add the music.
" During Christmas, I make stars and Christmas trees too" he added as if embarrassed and yet happy with the attention his tin man was receiving. Now that would be an interesting assemblage of kitchen utensils!
During the drive back to Guwahati, it was the Tin Man that played on my mind and his creator Jasbir Arora. What ingenuous talents lie unknown in the corners of the streets!
This post was written for TWTFOW #5
We stopped at a shop displaying trinkets and realized we were in the wrong place for khasi jewellery. Someone suggested Leudah or Barabazar. But I had no patience or the inclination left to explore yet another market. And just as I lamented about trudging our way back all for naught, I recognized music entering my disturbed state. Long forgotten Hindi melodies blaring out of a speaker. Nothing amiss here. And then I noticed the source of it. A Tin Man!From Wizard Of Oz?
Hanging from a string was a grinning Tin Man with plastic containers, aluminium pots and steel bowls, ladles and plates for company. Steel ladles for limbs, a grater for the torso. spoons as eyes, a bowl for a hat to cover a skull for a face, it beckoned all with it's music, apparently belted out from the torch it was thrust with to act as a mic. It was at home with all the crowd milling around while its creator dusted his wares, readying them for customers.I stood there not believing my eyes while the crowd moved on without giving it a second glance. It must have been a regular sight for them. I was curious and watched it from every angle. "Where's the music coming from?" He pointed shyly at the taped rear of the tin man.
Jasbir Arora who has been here for generations is a content man, making a comfortable sum selling his plastic, aluminium and steel utensils and containers. It was his idea to assemble his mascot out of the stuff he was selling. Sitting at home, one day he thought of creating something from the spoons and the ladles lying in his basket. One thing led to the other and soon he had a man fashioned out of the kitchen items. He then taped an 'ipod' to the back to add the music.
" During Christmas, I make stars and Christmas trees too" he added as if embarrassed and yet happy with the attention his tin man was receiving. Now that would be an interesting assemblage of kitchen utensils!
During the drive back to Guwahati, it was the Tin Man that played on my mind and his creator Jasbir Arora. What ingenuous talents lie unknown in the corners of the streets!
This post was written for TWTFOW #5
Yes Police Bazaar at Shillong is quite tiring. Luckily we didn't go on the weekend so we loved it and, like you, found many fascinating people to connect with.
ReplyDeleteLovely post - the tin man is so interesting.
Thank you Kalapanaa, I love Shillong, only it gets very crowded now.
Deleteinteresting post.
ReplyDeletethank you
DeleteNice to read :)
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteThat's very creative of him to make a tin man. I'm sure it would have attracted many people. Kudos to him for being innovative! It was nice to read.
ReplyDeleteThank you Darshana, it did seem to attract a few customers.
Deletewow that's so creative!! It must be a pleasant surprise to see this amidst the chaos of the bazaar :D
ReplyDeleteYes it was and pleasantly so. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThe hustle bustle of the flea market was superbly captured, as was the amazing contraption of the tin man. What a doughty soul!
ReplyDeleteThank you :) Indian Markets would be quite a disappointment without three more people at your elbow.
DeleteVery interesting. There is so much talent in the world and glad you could get a glimpse of that.
ReplyDeleteIt was refreshing to see this man's creation in the milling crowd.
DeleteSounds like you had quite an interesting time "discovering" the tin man! He looks quite an intriguing sight, doesn't he? I'm going back to a time many years ago when I was about 12 or 13 and was visiting Police Bazar with my dad and mom during our first visit to Shillong! Your post brought back memories of childhood.
ReplyDeleteI am glad my post could spark off the trigger for nostalgia. Shillong was beautiful once upon a time...
DeleteI love going to the local markets here in Mexico as well. So much creativity on the part of the sellers just to make that sale!
ReplyDeleteI love to spend time at local markets than the malls. It tells me so much more about the people.
DeleteIts great...Only few people have this talent. I hope his art flourishes amidst all the life struggles.
ReplyDeleteThere are all sorts of people in this world, some put-in a lot of effort to make a living out of the unknowns - seems tin man is one of them!
ReplyDelete