Bombay Rewind: A cracker of a century

Paresh Ajani holds up the original handcrafted brass nutcrackers and scissors. Pics/Bipin Kokate

"A Simple man". As 45-year old Paresh Ajani tries to recall memories of his grandfather, Keshavji Narshi Ajani, he stops at these three words. Even though his physical presence remains a fleeting memory, it is hard to miss the purity of spirit in the 100-year-old store in Kalbadevi. KN Ajani was no revolutionary, but he was consumed by the Swadeshi movement and so were his actions.

A variety of nutcrackers available at the store

At the beginning of the 20th century, he began selling cotton out of Masjid Bunder. Then came the move to Krishna Galli in Morarji Goculdas Market (now Swadeshi Market), where the store was formally established on January 1, 1918. And Ajani came to be known as a manufacturer of nutcrackers, knives, locks and scissors. With a custom-made, hand-painted font, he branded it with a signature tagline - Sword Brand. The store is now under the care of his four grandsons Ashish, Paresh, Jayesh and Rajesh and their father Nalin Keshavji Ajani.

Handmade lock and a print advertisement from the '80s

Home truths
The nutcracker, or sarota, is integral to Gujarati culture. The groom is instructed to carry a nutcracker for good luck. And then, there is the joy of eating supari, that according to grandson Paresh, still does wonders for digestion. But with the surge in betel nut prices and fewer consumers, the store is left clinging to rivaaj. "Since we are a well-known brand in the community, most of our customers are either loyal supari consumers or export agents who buy the nutcrackers in bulk for consumers abroad," he says.

Grandsons Ashish, Rajesh and Jayesh Ajani

Paresh, who took over the store in 1992, says that a majority of the stock is exported to Middlesex, UK, a stronghold of the Patel community Although, goods were initially hand-made by blacksmiths from Kothara in Kutch, Ajani now resorts to machines. "The younger generation isn't interested. Even getting local artisans to the city is not feasible because they find it difficult to adjust [to urban life]," he explains.

Nuts and bolts
Now, with two outlets - a wholesale and retail store in Abdul Rehman Street and Swadeshi Market respectively, they plan to expand their business to adapt to the technological revolution. For Rajesh, that comes at a premium.

knife design

"Only last year we went online, but that comes with a huge overhead cost," he says. Like his brother Paresh puts it, humourously, "We know that everything is going to change. But one can only hope that scientific research advocates chewing more supari."

At: KN Ajani, Krishna Galli, Swadeshi Market, Kalbadevi Road.
Time: 12 pm to 7 pm
Call: 8108900312

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