Next morning I started searching..”Nataka Dokana” from numerous small shops in Jharsuguda. I was looking each and every shop hoardings..Suddenly my eyes got struck to a hoarding having Guitar combined with a Tabla, clearly written “Nataka Dokana”. Letters of the hoarding were dancing asynchronously. Every instrument’s drawing was there, enough to make a brass band. I kept my bike in the roadside and went to that shop. The shopkeeper was doing a slow love to his odiya Newspaper. When I called him, he was very delighted to see me. His lips expanded to its extremities…
I asked:”I want a guitar..”
He replied:”Local or branded??”.I got confused. I thought whether I have asked for a Guitar or Rum bottle??
I said:”Show me the cheapest one.”
He replied:”Wait..am getting it from my workshop.” My confusion was as its peak by listening the word ‘Workshop’. The shopkeeper ordered his boy to bring a 1350 from his workshop.
I asked:”What is 1350??Is it the model name??”
He replied:”No No…it’s the price. Here all model are same . All guitars are made here.” My doubt got converted into reality. Before I knew LOCAL made means somewhere in India but not the place I am standing and searching the product. I reminded the innocent face of Akshay. Shopkeeper shown me different colours with design, as if showing T-shirts to me. Each piece of guitar was accompanied by some exciting prologue by the shopkeeper. All the guitars were out of tune and I think can’t be tuned further…The shopkeeper made a concession of Rs150 but I came back. I called Akshay on his cell phone.
I said:”I knew why your guitar is Rs 1200 !!”
Akshay replied:”Why……”
I said:”They are making these guitars here. These are ultra-local.”
Akshay replied:”Really??I don’t know about these things..”
I said:”Enjoy..If possible tune it for practice only, but never play it in public otherwise you have to pay for it.” After these words Akshay laughed and disconnected his call…
Friends…”Enthusiasm” is very harmful if you want to do things right now. Take your time and decide about your passion. If you really want to buy some musical instruments or any other things that you don’t know then kindly take one guy who knows about the instruments. Don’t throw you hard earned money to such types of shopkeepers. But if you need the cheapest one then take a piece of wood and make one guitar. Everything will cost around Rs300. But I am not sure about its performance.
Have a nice day.
Truly yours
JGD
7:20 am(as per my laptop time)
15/12/2011