The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : At 70, he cuts like a knife

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

At 70, he cuts like a knife

J.S. Ifthekhar

Abdul Ghani

HYDERABAD: There is no dearth of candidates for a job. If there is one post, there will be at least a dozen claimants for it. But here is a job going abegging - literally. For want of right credentials, perhaps, Salar Jung Museum (SJM) is forced to take the services of a septuagenarian.

Sounds incredible, but that's precisely the case. At 70 years of age, Abdul Ghani can consider himself lucky that his talent is still in demand. He is the one and only burnisher.

Burnisher all bright

A burnisher by profession, Ghani has spent most of his life giving that cutting edge and shiny look to swords. A few can match his workmanship in this field. That's the reason why the museum authorities have retained his services even after his retirement.

Ghani joined the museum rather late in the day and served it for 13 years as burnisher before retiring in 2001. But in absence of a qualified hand, the museum has engaged his services on contract basis. What exactly he does at the museum? There is a wide range of weaponry in the museum, including more than 3,000 swords and daggers. Only a part of it is on display and the rest is kept in stores. Ghani ensures that the swords and daggers remain rust-free and sport that sharp and sparkly look.

Not a tall order for him, but not easy as it sounds. No, he doesn't use any machines, but relies on his own time-tested formula. "Three generations in my family are in this line of work," says Ghani. Yes, go to Fatehdarwaza in the old city and you will know that he is popular there as `Talwarwala.'

Ghani is very possessive about his art and doesn't want to reveal the wonder formula he uses in maintaining swords. The SJM authorities' attempts to make him pass on the technique to someone younger have drawn a blank. "If the museum agrees to employ my son, then I will train him. Otherwise, let this art die with me", says the angry old man.

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