Abu Tahir from Coimbatore grew up in a family that was trying to make ends meet. He recalls the time when he ate just one meal a day. This was the mid-day meal that was served in his school. The financial situation of his family prompted him to give up studies and he began working as a mechanic in a bicycle repair shop. But that did not stop him from owning 70 radio sets.
Abu admits that the radio had always fascinated him since he was a boy. His odyssey with the radio began early. Today, this 39-year old Coimbatorean has a massive collection of radio sets. A family man today, he is still trying to make ends meet, but nothing stops him from collecting the nearly forgotten invention - the radio.
“When I was in school, the radio was a luxury that only the rich could afford. I remember as a school boy how I used to peep into the window of people’s homes and watch them tune the radio in their homes. I always wanted to own and use one and today, I have a collection of many antique pieces,” Abu says.
He describes how he bought his first set. The year was 1992 and a young Abu was a bicycle mechanic in a repair shop. He managed some savings and he expressed his desire to his colleagues to purchase and own a radio set. A few days later, a scrap-dealer offered him a radio, which refused to play, for Rs. 30. It was big money for someone who had given up studies to support his family. However, Abu purchased it without second thoughts. All for the love of radio!
The new owner of the radio dismantled the set and tried his best to make it work. However, all his efforts went in vain. It was only in 1996 that Abu got to learn that he was in possession of a Ham radio. A jubilant Abu made up his mind that he will set aside funds to purchase and collect radio pieces that catch his eye and this trend continues even today.
At present Abu has about 70 pieces of radio and they include a variety. He has single battery operated ones, single band radios, radios made of wood, teak wood, and radio with three controls, among other pieces. He shares with us that he sets aside Rs. 1,500 every month to maintain his collection.
“About three years ago I was staying in a rented house. Heavy rains damaged 50 of my radio. I was unable to eat and sleep for several days. Gradually I got over it and now I take precautionary measures to protect my collection,” Abu says. Now he works as a driver and in his free time Abu reads a lot of literature about radios and their operation. He is not a technology savvy person and a majority of his learning takes place by talking to people and reading the printed books.
Now he works as a driver and in his free time Abu reads a lot of literature about radios and their operation. He is not a technology savvy person and a majority of his learning takes place by talking to people and reading the printed books.
Despite trying his best to make ends meet, Abu is clear that his precious collection is not for sale. When invited to display his collection at trade shows, Abu grabs every opportunity that comes his way. During one of the trade exhibitions, Abu was offered a whopping sum of Rs. 2 crore by a business man in exchange for his collection. But Abu turned down the offer and refuses to let go of his collection. His plans for the future are to add on to his collection. The last piece that he purchased was four years ago. He also has ambitious plans of opening a museum to showcase his impressive collection.