The goldsmith

My daughters ear stud screw got lost. A tiny earring, and a tinier screw.

We walked in and out of two big gold shops, and were told that seeking tiny screws was passe. That these were times of use and dispose, and that we could buy a new set.

A screw would cost a few hundreds, and the smallest new set they could offer was 2000/- plus.

We waited. Refusing to beleive that days of repair and reuse were so completely over.

And the small neem twigs stayed in the ears, while we postponed purchase.

Today I passed a small hole in the wall shop. A goldsmith shop. Three middle aged men in that small room. One with a mud tray with paddy husk, and some glowing coals on it. Blowing at them. Another with his silver wares he was cleaning . The third at the burner. A sense of old times, simpler times. Slower, kinder times.

And I went and asked if they could make a screw. The man at the burner asked to see the ear stud, and I carefully unfolded the paper packet in my purse and laid the peices on his palm.

He opened a very tiny box and pulled out some screws from them. Tried them on the stud. Then took a tiny gold wire, adjusted it against the tiny screw, blew the flame on the peices, and deftly shaped them together with a small hammer.

Five mintes, while i waited on the footpath opposite the shop. And he handed over the peices with a smile.

200/-, he said.

These spaces exist. They are humble spaces and get missed under the glitter and glamour of richer zones. With neon lights, and mannequins far larger than life. The Dazzling Spaces.

But if we become small ourselves, step below the radar, then we find the humbler spaces. Or they find us.

These are the spaces we need to protect. For our sakes. For the sake of the earth.

Aparna Krishnan Walked into two overpowering places. Their goldsmiths brushed aside our humble request.

This simple place was what had the time to listen and the heart to help.

Anil Kumar The same holds true for wrist watch and clock mechanics today. Difficult to find them, and those around are finding it too difficult to get business. How long they will continue is a big question mark.

Rama Lakshmi Dhavala Outside every regular jewellery shop is a gold repair person, whose services are very much sought after. Those times are still around. 
Just avoid those big branded showrooms.

1

Manage

Like

 · Reply · 20h · Edited

Aparna Krishnan Everything branded has to be avoided like a cancer. Then we have a fighting chance. Of survival of the race.

Rajeev R. Singh We try to repair as much as possible. It's becoming more and more difficult these days. If you try to look for straps for bathroom slippers, the shopkeepers look at you as though you just arrived from a different planet. The cost of repairing gadgets and appliances has become as high as buying new ones. Same with clothes. ..

2

Manage

Like

 · Reply · 20h

Aparna Krishnan Which is why the battles we are fighting are all wrong. 

The battle is one of mindsets, attitudes. To a return to utter simplicity. Of walking backwards. To austerity.

Every other battle against dams or deforestation, will be won the day this is won. And only on that day.

Rahul Banerjee Ha ha its hard to spot them in Chennai but there are many in Indore.

Manage

Like

 · Reply · 20h

Aparna Krishnan The more progressed a state it, the more it is lost to modern ways, and the more it has lost many traditional strengths.

1

Manage

Like

 · Reply · 19h

Dhyan Swaroop · Friends with Vijay Ganesh

You need to head to sowkarpet, Parrys to find them

Pavan Kumar Kamaraju · 2 mutual friends

I was told, in a big name footwear shop in Guwahati (with a frown) that they sell only shoes, and not shoe-laces, and if I wanted laces for my shoes, I had to go looking elsewhere.

Manage

Like

 · Reply · 18h

Aparna Krishnan Its the Game of Consuming.

Pavan Kumar Kamaraju · 2 mutual friends

In today's consumerist world, repair economy has been replaced by replacement economy. It killed the niche employment that existed in the repair economy.

2

Manage

Like

 · Reply · 18h

Anil Kumar And we fail to recognise that "repairing" economy is Green Economy.