Leaving the limelight

There is a luminous connection between Bhansali's Devdas, Santoshi's Legend of Bhagat Singh and the Ganpati processions in the city.

There is a luminous connection between Bhansali8217;s Devdas, Santoshi8217;s Legend of Bhagat Singh and the Ganpati processions in the city. All of them have been using the 100-year-old petromaxes for illumination. Rahul Ware claims to be the sole owner of these petromaxes in the state, which are more than a century old.

8220;My grandfather had bought them second hand around 50 years ago and since then they have been hired for numerous purposes. Basically a product of Germany the petromaxes were available in a large number some years ago, however only 70 of them are left with me,8221; adds Ware.

From Raj Kapoor8217;s Barsaat and Awara to the Marathi8217;s glorified Maaherchi Saree or the hilarious Hulchul the lamps have lit the glamour in many movies. 8220;The petromaxes have been mostly used in films to depict historical occurrences or traditional setups. For instance they have been utilised to light Paro8217;s Mahal in Devdas. However in the city people have been renting them for the jatras or baarats or even by the students from the Film and Television Institute of India FTII. I had recently rented them out for the visarjan procession for the Mandai8217;s Ganpati,8221; shares Ware.

There is a secret and a skill that lights the darkness through this petromaxes. Describing the method, Ware says, 8220;Fuel and air pressure in appropriate proportion is what it takes to light the lamps. We have been doing this since the last three generations and I alone light them hence have to be present on each location, wherever the lamps are being used.8221;

Giving details about the upkeep of the petromaxes he elaboretes,

8220;Once a year during the rainy season the lamps are fixed and restored for one whole month. We work on the burner, filament and amend several parts to ensure their durability. The amount of light exuded is 250-candle power and unlike the usual petromaxes the bulb here is at the bottom below the kerosene tank. The silkwood or the mantle burns and can give out light for 12 hours if fuelled with two litres of kerosene. I charge rupees 150 to 300 for three hours.8221;

Yet time refines even the finest and what is left is the symbolic amount of these petromaxes since they are neither manufactured anymore nor claim sufficient demand. 8220;There is already a dearth of labour to carry them and we have been sustaining them with the spare parts, which had been bought decades ago. The dearth of manpower is so concerning that at times I have to refrain from taking orders,8221; he adds.