The Hindu : Computers `carve' out a new chapter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Computers `carve' out a new chapter

By Dennis Marcus Mathew

HYDERABAD, MARCH 10. Computers, marble and granites might be ages apart and entirely different in character. But in the dusty lanes of the Old City, the two are forging a commercial relation, and have almost pushed out man, that too skilled artists, from their field of `collaboration.' The unlikely partnership is progressing ahead, though with a little bit of the usual bottlenecks, in the engraving and embossing business on the Nizam Shahi road near Mozamjahi Market.

The trade, which sees plain marble and granite stones changing into beautiful nameplates, epitaphs or foundation stone plaques, had MJ market as its headquarters for the entire State till a few years ago. However, things are changing fast after the advent of computer software relevant to the trade, and of course with enterprising businessmen in Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Vijayawada deciding to compete with Hyderabad.

Sami Ullah Parkar, in-charge of Shine Marble Works, perhaps represents the changing face of the business. He has got a Personal Computer (PC) set up amidst huge stacks of marble and granite plates, and using Corel Draw 9, shows his customers a wide range of fonts, designs and software for any Indian language, which they can choose from to decide on how their name plate or tombstone or plaque should be.

"It has been nearly three years since we first started using computers. I learned it from my boss' brother, and now work is easier, and much faster too. But the change has brought in many more players and with it and competition as well. Prices too have come down. For instance, a 1 foot 9 inch granite nameplate would have cost Rs. 400 earlier, is now available for less than Rs. 200,'' he says. However, he points out that for nameplates and tombstones in Urdu, his shop still depends on skilled artists, who are hard to come by nowadays.

Baba, of Famous Marble Works points out to two young boys hurriedly chipping away on a piece of marble. "Earlier, we used to have a two to three skilled workers and boys to help them around. But now, any one with a little bit of training can get the work done,'' he says All they have to do is to decide the font size, design and language, get an actual size printout of the same and paste it on the stone. Baba gets it done from a nearby computer centre and then the workers either engrave or emboss the content.

But Baba, and Mohammed Jamaluddin of Agra Marble Works, lament that business has come down after the advent of computers.

"With no talented artists required now, business has plunged. There are around 20 shops in this area and hundreds across the State. Where we used to earn around Rs. 300 a day earlier, now we hardly earn Rs. 100.

And now, with the election dates being announced, orders for foundations stones are not coming by," Baba says. Still, Sami Ullah and Baba are optimistic. Software is a new age device and those who are smart will survive, Baba believes.

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Andhra Pradesh