Shukrawari market of Vadodara, home of super antique products
For Barodians Shukrawari market is the place to get items in cheaper rates but have anyone ever thought that the place is the home for super antique products which one can ever seen now.
Antique collector Nirmal collected super antiques from the same market and showcased his prized possession in his home museum.
Every Friday the market opens and people gathered there to purchase things cheapely but for Nirmal it's the place to collect super antique products from there and he is doing it for the last two decades and more. He has a penchant to pick up things of artistic value even if it demands investment of time and money for over a period of 22 years.
Manu' Nirmal’s prized possessions include a variety of lamps, paan petis, wooden frames, copper vessels, chandeliers, most of which adorn the Walls, corners and display Counters inside his home museum. Nirmal is so proud of his collection that he shows all the antique pieces with details to the persons who visits his home museum. For Manu the 'Shukravari bazaar' and the Junk shops of the city is his place for treasure hunt.
Nirmal was always on lookout for antique and products of artistic value and for that he make it a point to visit the Shukravari Market for the last 27 years or so. "When we are in college in 1973 our teachers always asked for new objects for our works. Our professor Firoz Katpatia took us to the Shukravari Market to find the object in the old products sold there. After my studies once I passed from the market and saw a Brass lamp and a Paan Peti and bought it. Since then I have the fascination to visit the place for last 27 years and collect super antiques from the market," said Nirmal.
A student of Fine Arts from 1973 to 78 Manu Nirmal started his own business of graphic designing and printing but he never miss to visit the Shukravari Market which is now shifted to Bhutdizampa for last five years or so. From more then the last two decades of his efforts Manu Nirmal has the superlative collection of antique lamps, lights, Paan petis inside his basement home museum.
"I have over 150 lamps used in cycles, railway crossings, houses, Baggis, Ships, for praying, lanterns (Phanus) and many more. The lights I have were used in Tables, walls, temple lights, ceiling mounting, marriage lights, love lights, steamers, ships, army and lights using in worship by religions like Muslim, Christian and Parsis. A dynomo light used in cycles is also with me. The lamps and lights are in their original forms and in working condition. What is more interesting is that the lights were made in countries like Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, USA, England, Austria, Australia, London and others. The logo of the countries can be seen on the lamps and lights which make it priceless," said Nirmal.
Apart from that unique lights and lamp collection Nirmal has 100 plus Paan petis in his home museum. The Paan petis are in silver, german silver, aluminum, chromium silver just like the lamps. You can find round, square,triangle, oval shapes Paan Petis in the collection along with some interesting artisitic shapes.
"This is also the collection which is priceless to me as one can find every shape Paan Petis in there which was a sign of royalty for the kings and the rich. The Pan shape, aeroplane, swing, cars, coffin, gift box, throne, bird shapes and many more. All of them are original and showed the history and era when they were used," said Nirmal.
Apart from these two Nirmal has the vast collection of books and beed work in his museum. He said all of these is priceless for him and one of them approach to purchase all but he refused. He added that people can came and increase their knowledge but selling in a total no. He still goes to the Shukravari Market in search of the priceless antiques which is just an object for the sellers but for an antique collector like Nirmal it's unique.
