FRIDAY FLEA MARKET an artist’s impression of this inspiration. – Kruti Mukherjee
‘REMEMBERING THE OLD DAYS – SHUKRAWAR INHERITANCE
& INFLUENCE’ at Sarjan Art Gallery Baroda was an exhibition of
works done by artists using materials collected from the ‘FRIDAY FLEA
MARKET’. This exhibition was an effort to revive the rich historical past
and bridging it for the future generation to cherish for ever.
History of the flea market dates back, when rag and bone men scoured
through the garbage of Paris at night to find valuable junk to sell on.
The origin of the term is obscured in the past but it has come to refer
to a market that rents space to anyone with products or services, to sell to
the public. Some flea markets are permanent indoor establishments while
others are outdoor markets that are held at regular intervals and draw a
large number of vendors and shoppers. Most of these bazaars offer items
that are rare or not common in traditional retail outlets. We all know what
a flea market is even if the term does not have a firm definition. One may
come across a flea market in all parts of the world.
In Gujarat, the Living heritage called “Gujri Bazaar”, Ahmedabad’s
oldest market, also called “Raviwari Bazaar” a unique market started almost
600 years back by Sultan Ahmed Shah, the founder of Ahmedabad. Since
decades, the Gujri bazaar has operated as an open market on Sundays,
catering to the needs of people from nearby towns and villages as well as
from the locality. It is estimated that over 5,000 people visit the market
every Sunday. There is huge variety on sale like furniture, household
utensils, stoves, handcarts, cycles, electronic goods, second-hand items,
antique, clothes, books, foodstuff and even animals and of course some
stolen goods too. The Sunday market has everything from a needle to
spear. There are showpieces, brassware, pots, jewellery boxes with intricate
carving and antiquated items that look like they belong to some Mughal
period. One may even stumble upon the most unexpected things like
gramophone records, rare coins, stamps, saxophone etc. If you are lucky
enough you may end up owning some interesting antique pieces. These
markets are also a treasure of book ranging from philosophy, politics,
religion, literature, classics, art, encyclopedia and so on. The list of things
we get to see and enrich our knowledge with, never ends. Each Flea market
has a similar role to play.