Back in the 1940s, Kamruddin Adamjee's horse saddles graced Mumbai's tongas and Victorias. fiona fernandez dropped by this 68 year-old enterprise in Bhendi Bazar to find that the piece-de-resistance has, rather unfortunately, met with a fall
Back in the 1940s, Kamruddin Adamjee's horse saddles graced Mumbai's tongas and Victorias. Fiona Fernandez dropped by this 68 year-old enterprise in Bhendi Bazar to find that the piece-de-resistance has, rather unfortunately, met with a fall
"Those days, everybody recognised our shop as the Ghodewale ki dukaan; it was a landmark as you approached Bhendi Bazaar. It was thanks to an elaborately decorated white horse made of Plaster of Paris that was displayed at the entrance," reminisces third generation owner Kamruddin, of Kamruddin Adamjee & Co, one of the last surviving dealers and stockists of horse saddles in the city.u00a0
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"Everybody in the vicinity had similar shops. We sold horseshoes, nails, files, cutters (shears), combs and of course, saddles. Tongas and Victorias dominated Mumbai's streets, then," Kamruddin speaks of the glory days, with a tinge of nostalgia.
Bidding farewell to ghoda gadis
But by the 1970s, the gallop became a stride as the horse-accessory manufacturing business in the city took a nosedive. "Cars became the favoured means of transport," he says. Foreseeing a fall in sales, most dealers looked at alternate trades. Some shifted to the foam industry while others like Kamruddin moved to industrial felt. Today, except in a mention of his shop signage and visiting card, you cannot spot his famous saddles.
They are confined to the dusty interiors of his storeroom. "Until the 1980s, we had four craftsmen. Most of the leather was sourced from Kanpur, while treated leather arrived from Chennai. A good saddle costs about Rs 7,500. Today, I'm unable to sell even 10 saddles in a year," he admits.
Patrons like Pesi Shroff
And to think there was a time when Kamruddin's father, an avid follower of Mumbai's races, would take tips from biggies like jockey Pesi Shroff and Narendra Lagad when they dropped by to buy saddles. "Gradually, horse owners roped in international jockeys, who preferred to bring their own saddles (costing up to ufffd7,000) and we lost out even further," Kamruddin tells us. A few horse owners from Matheran and Mumbai's promenades are their only customers now. "Keeping a horse is a very expensive business, you see."
As we stepped out of this old-styled enterprise, wooden shutters et al, it was a tad difficult to imagine the fascinating link that the Kamruddins shared with Mumbai's transport, all those decades ago.u00a0
Mumbai's lifelike horse model
The famous white-coloured horse made of plaster of Paris was a prominent feature in the Bhendi Bazaar area. Standing at 6 ft x 8 ft, old timers fondly remember this landmark, complete with elegant paraphernalia. It was dismantled in 1995-96.
Saddle-side story
Along with Mumbai, Kalyan was a huge hub for saddle manufacturers in the old days. Today, Delhi is where some of these businesses survive. However, for a view of the best saddles, visit the Puskar and Surajkund fairs, to marvel at Indian artistry at its finest.
Making a saddle
Pure leather is the main material and is usually machine-made. The lining is hand-stitched and made from suede to increase the rider's comfort. This apart, a saddle also has buckles and straps for grip and to help secure the saddle on the horse. On an average, a saddle takes two days to make.
Kamruddin Adamjee & Co, 135, Ebrahim Rehmantullah Road, Bhendi Bazaar. Call: 23744502
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