New Bamboo Bazaar
Names can be deceptive. Like the New Bamboo Bazaar, next to City market. It sells more more metal and less bamboo (Bamboo is used for ladders and scaffolding). The New Bamboo Bazaar popularly known as the Gujli/Gujri, covers the area between S J Park and Kalasipalayam bisected by a stinking nullah. The bazaar is a collection of tens of little shops stocking scrap metal and second hand metallic parts. Like the humble shop shown above that sells everything you need to repair a tractor or build one from scratch. Jai Kisan!
We are Indians. We have an army out there that helps us reuse most things we throw. And if it is made from metal, it usually ends up here. Scrap is landed here by the truck loads in these narrow lanes littered with metal bits. They are sorted, broken down and sold for reuse.
The New Bamboo Bazaar or Gujli is home to of hundreds of small scrap dealers and hawkers. Each of them have their own niche and regular customers. Like this shop, brothers Ali and Hamid inherited from their father. They deal in springs and gears for lathe machines sourced from Mumbai. Their customers are small industries from the many industrial estates that dot Bruhat Benglur or Greater Bangalore.
The price is usually settled through old-fashioned bargaining. However, most metal is traded based on weight. The going rate for Mild Steel (MS) is about Rs. 45. You can get them in any size you wish. The customer can sift through the wares or state the required size and the shopkeeper will do it for you. You can also get a wide range of metal alloys but no one will guarantee you the perfect mix. Here's a young man weighing scrap metal before making a sale.
And finally here are some friendly faces from the Gujli. Meet Chottoo and Company. That's little Syed Noor with his friend Athalluah, standing shoulder to shoulder.
15 comments:
Hahaha...enjoyed those pics.
you are undoubtedly one of the most wonderful story tellers i have come across in my life. this collection is amazing,
~ b
You are light years ahead Guruji!!! Do visit my blog on Surat.. www.suratfirst.blogspot.com
thats a great post..personally Ive always like bamboo bazaar and I cursed myself last time for not having a camera when I went there
very good story
wonder why he is using the safety pin when the button is intact.
Loved the post Gopal! They seemed glad to be photographed!
Thank you all :)
Shiju: Must be for later use.
Priyank: Yes! :)
superb photos, on this snowy april first morning I want to be there walking talking and looking, nourishing, inspiring,rich, just the best, thanx
used to pass by this place everyday! cars, BMTC buses, thousand 2-wheelers & autos, jhatka-gaadis, all used to ply this road, all gingerly avoiding brushing shoulder's
memories :)
I completely agree with Lightandshadow's comment!
Great shots, great story and mosr of all, great faces.
Every time i read a post on your blog it is a new story about a place i have known and not known for such a long while ... this one is longer than others but one feels like going and meeting these people and listening to their stories .... Kudos for bringing these stories to so many people ...
Have you been to the gujli market in Shivajinagar? It's much similar to Bamboo bazaar, again near a nullah and very vibrant with activity.
Love your blog, will be back to see more of the lanes and bylanes.
yes, I have been to the Shivajinagar Gujli. Here are some pics from there: http://mainsandcrosses.blogspot.com/search/label/Chandni%20Chowk%20Rd.
very nice blog. More informative. Thanks for sharing you can also refer this
Scrap dealers in jayanagar
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