Children can observe from their environment in ways that we can hardly imagine! It is sad that today with more emphasis on technology-based activities, they are hardly given a chance to explore their surrounding, in the most natural and God-gifted ways. This story of the operations of a piano shop from the eyes of a child will definitely give you a glimpse of how different times were in the old days.
During my early childhood, I had the joy of seeing and interacting with ‘Tatha’ ( Telugu word for Grandfather we imbibed from the local culture ) and Valiyamachie ( Malayalam word for Grandmother ).
Well, you might ask me, “Who was Tatha, who was Valiyamachie ?” My maternal Great Grandfather was endearingly called Tatha by his grandchildren and great grandchildren while Great Grandmother was Valiyamachie to all.
It is about Tatha’s piano shop that I am now going to tell you. Tatha had not planned to be a piano shop owner at all. As a youngster he had been sent to Medical College. In his second year of study his eyes got infected and he lost the sight of one eye. Other problems followed and he had to forget his ambition of becoming a doctor.
He left his home state, Kerala, and joined a British piano manufacturing company in Bangalore. After a few years in Bangalore they sent him to Secunderabad ( in 1902 ) to set up a shop there. He became the manager of that shop.
Post-independence the British owner left India, but not before Tatha bought the shop. Thus he set up – K.M. MATHEWS PIANOFORTE DEALER, TUNER AND REPAIRER’S SHOP’ in his house at 99 Tower Street with 25 pianos.
Besides being a master piano tuner Tatha played host to a lot of Malayalees who came to Secunderabad or Hyderabad for the first time. He was the first Malayalee/Syrian Christian to settle down in the city. He came to be known as ‘ Piano Mathews’. This is the story that was told to me by my mother.
I was born into the household of 14 people headed by Tatha. So the shop has become an unforgettable part of my memory.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE PIANO SHOP
As I walk down the memory lane I can see the shop as it looked in my childhood. It was elevated from the street by a flight of 3-4 steps. These steps led to the entrance door of the shop. The large windows on the sides of the door opened into a porch with iron railings all around.
The inside of the shop was fairly well lit because of the windows and the ventilators. It was a large hall with a high ceiling. It had more area than the total area of the flat we own in Delhi today.
Tarpaulin-covered pianos were placed close to the walls. Some of them were made in Germany and some in Britain. They were all classic and precious works of art. A three legged metal stool with a round seat was placed near each piano.
One or two violins also occupied some space. The walls had portraits of famous western musicians like Handel, Bach, Beethoven and Mozart.
The family house was at the back of the shop with only an unpaved courtyard to separate the two. The shop had a backdoor, making it easy for us great-grandchildren to run to and fro.
If anyone entered the shop from the back he had to pass the annexe. The annexe was also large and it was there that Tatha’s assistant ( his brother-in-law ) worked. We called him ‘Kucha’ ( short for Kuttychayen )
Kucha did all the cutting and sticking work involved in repairing the pianos. He even made the glue himself. He had a large work table which was full of tools and knick knacks. There was a knife sharpener too. Also a device with a wheel and belt. I don’t know what it was used for.
Tuning forks and spare parts were tucked away in the shelves. All these things aroused our curiosity. It was always interesting to watch Kucha work.
Every morning Kucha would be the first to be at the shop and begin work. Tatha followed later accompanied by his dear pet dog Jacky. My uncle Thomas Mathew also came to the shop often. He was to inherit the business and could tune pianos to perfection just by the ear. He never used any aids.
Tatha passed away when I was 6 years old. He was 89. I remember him as a tall, old man with round rimmed glasses and a faltering gait. He used a walking stick and Jacky loyally followed him everywhere. He wore shirt and pants with a belt and donned a true British style hat when he had to go out.
OUR ADVENTURES AT THE PIANO SHOP
We children were often sent on errands to the shop. Mathew, my cousin, usually went around 10 a.m. to ask Tatha money to buy vegetables and meat for the day. One day Tatha gave him only a single note instead of the usual two.
Mathew innocently tore the note into two and gave it to Valiyamachie thinking that he had doubled the amount by tearing it. This incident has been recounted many times in the family as a joke.
During the day my sister and I were sent to the shop with porridge or soup for Tatha and Kucha. Kucha would welcome us at the annexe with a hug. We loved the errands because they were diversions. It gave us a chance to look at the customers. Sometimes, even gape at them!
Many were women and most of them were Goans, Anglo-Indians or Parsis. These were the people who were interested in Western Music. Their colourful dresses, hairstyle and make up attracted me. The musical pieces they practised on the piano enthralled us.
Customers came to the shop for many reasons. Some came to buy a piano, others to hire one and still others to practise on them. Pianos at the British Residency and even the Nizam’s palace were tuned by Tatha.
Pianos were rented out to churches, concert halls, schools and many upper middle class families. They were carried to nearby places by coolies. Consequently 2-3 coolies were always around the shop. They were friendly and talked lovingly to us.
One day I saw a middle aged Anglo Indian woman sitting on a stool, talking to Tatha. Suddenly, she took out a cigarette from her bag and lit it. She began to smoke and I was aghast. I had never seen such a sight. What would Tatha say or do ?
While trying to disperse the smoke by waving his hands Tatha accidentally struck at the cigarette and it fell to the ground. Now, I almost froze because I was almost sure the lady would react negatively. I was wrong.
She just crushed the cigarette under her shoes and the conversation recommenced ! Today I realize that Tatha had the advantage of age and the lady was gracious enough to respect him.
On some days all of us children would run to the shop to play Hide and Seek. Besides myself there were Mathew and Jerry ( my cousins ) , John ( Kucha’s son ) and of course Lucy, my elder sister. We hid in the nooks and corners, behind a piano, under a piano cover, under the table or behind doors. When the noise grew intolerable Tatha would wave his walking stick at us in mock anger. All of us would then run back to the house amidst boisterous laughter and Jacky’s excited barking.
In the rainy season we loved to stand in the porch of the shop and watch the rain. Streams of water flowed down Tower Street. We made paper boats and floated them in the streams. The cool breeze after the showers were like a balm.
There was a time when we looked forward to Friday evenings. At around 6 p.m every Friday a lady would come to the shop to practise on the piano. It was her companion who fascinated us. He was a 15 year old Cocker Spaniel named Timmy. The lady told us that 15 years was too old for a dog and that made us more curious.
We observed him as he loyally followed and obeyed her. He lay on the floor and listened attentively as she played wonderful music. Sometimes he gazed at us with friendly eyes but we dare not stroke him! We only trusted Jacky who always joined in all our fun.
Whenever Tatha was not at his desk we would edge towards it. There were paper weights and clips to fiddle with. Besides, we knew that Tatha stored Bulls Eye ( striped peppermint lozenges ) and chocolate coated calcium tablets in the drawers. We hurriedly devoured some of them, before Tatha returned.
Whenever I recall Great Grandfather’s piano shop I am filled with nostalgia and pleasure. Perhaps it is because of the wonderful moments and experiences I had there. It was a world different from the modern one. The pace was unhurried. Customers had time to smile,to be polite and to interact. No one seemed preoccupied.
We had time to play around and watch people from different walks of life. There was no technology ( T.V., Mobile. Computer or telephone ) to hijack our simple pleasures.
At the shop we felt secure under the watchful eyes of Tatha and Kucha and the friendliness of the visitors. The shop was not posh or bustling with business. It was welcoming!
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Hi! My name is Rubitah. I’m a Content Writer certified Life Coach, Counselor, Social Work professional and the Founder of Being Rubitah. Over the years through my professional and personal life, I have realized that prayers and love can do wonders to family life once you come to terms with yourself and surrender to God. Do you relate to me? Then you may like what I post here! Read more about me
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