A brother less

The frontage of this shop, at the end of Ritherdon Road in Vepery, seems to have remained unchanged since the time it was first opened here circa 1920. The business was founded and run by Gajendra Rao, but is now being taken care of by his grandson. 

Until a few years ago, it was run by his grandsons. Not sure of the names of the other, who must have cashed out on his partnership and gone away from Vepery. I remember seeing a post showing the sign on this board reading "M.C. Heroji Rao & Bror". Today, little remains of the Bror. It is a different sign, stating M.C. Heroji Rao's exclusive ownership.

Is there a reason why the doors are still unopened? Or, did I get here too early on a Sunday or something?

Wheels on wheels

There was a time when these machines were a standard fixture in every house. Mostly they were there as a standby; it was not as if all dresses were home-tailored. They would be used to shorten the elder brother's trousers for the younger, or to let out the waist as the boy expanded. Serious clothes, like those for festivals, were always handed over to the professionals - who would deliver them the night before, after endless haranguing over the delay.

The tailors continue to run their business, even if their clientele has changed a bit. But the home machines are probably less used these days, which is probably why this pay-per-stitch service is popular in some parts of the city.