18/08/2024
A lady was seen walking the streets of Dehradun with a blue umbrella. A beautiful design and bright color made it eye catching, but something was unusual , it was an inverted umbrella. As funny as, it looked, it seemed as if she was carrying a bucket in the shape of an umbrella trying to collect rain water.
People on the road were giving all sorts of advice , as to what should be done to fix it. Some said take it against the wind, some said close it and reopen and some ladies just thought they are missing out on the new fashion of the town.
Though in actuality the umbrella could not fold back and carrying the funny umbrella. She was only trying to find a shop where she could get it repaired.
Remember when your umbrella used to get broken and you went to the repair shop to get it fixed. The good old days are gone and it's harder than ever to find a repair shop in 2024.
Once seen on every chowk of Dehradun, the craft of umbrella repair is dying, with only a fraction of skilled repair men left in the town.
The lady went searching from clock tower to paltan bazaar and Ghosi gally, as if she was promoting the inverted umbrella, doing a ramp walk.
Finally she reached the shop she purchased the umbrella from. The shopkeeper said "I only sell it" but I can tell you a place from where you can get it fixed.
Giving directions to an old lane in Paltan bazaar. It felt like he had given the pass to the chattri Bazar of Bombay. The excitement of the lady plummeted as she entered the lane.
The remains of old buildings and vacant shops reflected the plight of the dying craft.
Most famous repair men had either ran out of business and shutted down or they died and became history.
Going back home in despair she had lost all hope. Giving it a last try she decided to try her luck with cobblers.
Most of them refused but to her surprise, sitting near panchayati mandir a man named "Hori Singh" who by profession is a cobbler said I will take the challenge to fix your umbrella.
He had a look the the umbrella and said "the design is unconventional but I will try". To her surprise he fixed the umbrella perfectly well and made the day of the lady.
Going back home with her bright blue vintage umbrella. She realised that such craft of umbrella repair is dying and needs to be preserved.
The crafts men like Hori Singh need to be encouraged, and rewarded else this craft will perish and only exist in history books.
Though next time you want to get your umbrella fixed you know where to find Hori Singh, but craftsmen like him need to be brought in public light.
So the lady with the blue umbrella decided to write her funny but enriching experience to create social awareness about the crafts men of the town.
If you liked this anecdote then share it and help to create awareness.
