Healer of our soles.
Cobbler Nanu Satardekar has pitched his portable tool bench on a Panjim sidewalk for the past 25 years, rendering a vital service to the community. Nanu and his fellow cobblers live out their entire lives unnoticed and unappreciated.
Cobbler Nanu Satardekar at work, Panjim
5D Mark III, 24-105L
Nanu, up close
5D Mark III, 24-105L
Shoeshine
5D Mark III, 24-105L
Nanu Satardekar of Calapur, Goa
5D Mark III, 24-105L
Vasanti Footwear is the oldest footwear shop in the city, and probably the only bespoke shoemaker left in Goa. Its owner, Loleshwar Nipanikar trained as a boy under his father and now continues the tradition.
Cobbler Loleshwar Nipanikar, proprietor of Vasanti Footwear
5D Mark III, 24-105L
Fashioning shoes made to order
5D Mark III, 24-105L
Cobbler Yeshwant Redkar
5D Mark III, Zeiss ZE 50 f/2 MP
Cobbler Bholeshwar Korgaonkar
5D Mark III, Zeiss ZE 50 f/2 MP
Lovely photo compilation of “soon to die” species !
Notice – there are no young faces..
They say a picture can speak more than a thousand words can. But this is not always the case. The pictures which Rajan has taken are very handsome if not pretty. But they hide the reality that (unless I am hugely mistaken) those photographed belong to the caste of chamars who for thousands of years were looked down upon because their profession was regarded as an ‘unclean’ one. It is ironic that in an age where dealing in footwear may make one a millionaire those who belong to this caste may be deserting the profession.
Once again, Rajanbab, Thank You for some delightful pics. In all but one of the pics, I see a certain peace on the faces of the individuals in the frame. Couldn’t help wondering IF Mr Redkar was photographically related to Mr Modi (:-)
Gorgeous photo essay of a dying craft.
Dear Rajan,
This must have been about thirty years ago,when I was in Panjim about thirty years ago, just around the corner of Mandovi hotel, I had my shoes polished.
What amused me was this. A little box with a slot, witten above it were the words
‘Complaint Box’
These guys had a sense of humour for their clients!
Con