Barberia of Panaji: A fading colonial cut

RUPESH SAMANT (PTI), PANAJI | 07 August 2011 22:46 IST

Old fort walls and imposing churches are not the only vestiges of 450-year-long Portuguese rule in Goa. A functioning relic of the colonial era are Barberia -- hair-cutting saloons -- of Panaji.

Against the invasion of modern, air-conditioned saloons, Barberia seem to be fighting a losing battle. Only five or less are left now.

But they have not given up the old-world charm.

Tucked away in busy bylanes, they sport quaint names such as Barberia Indiana, Barberia Real or Barberia Nova Sucursal.

80-year-old Barberia Indiana (''Indian hair-cutting saloon''), is across a lane overlooking Mandovi River.

Hari Raghu Borcar was the original owner, now the third generation of his family is looking after the business.

"The chairs were imported from Tokyo, Japan. They are still strong and need no repairs," said Vithal Kawthankar (who has worked here for over thirty years), showing the fading name ''Takehana, Tokyo'' inscribed on the steel foot-rests.

Often, enchanted by the unique Latin-Portuguese architecture of the buildings housing them, foreign tourists walk in for a shave or a hair-cut.

"They like the uniqueness of the saloon. They can afford posh saloons but they come here and try to learn about the history of the place," Kawthankar said. 

After the pan-India saloon chains came to Panaji, the rates have zoomed up. But Barberias still offer hair cut or shave at affordable rates.

"The oldest Barberia in Panaji was Barberia Central. But it was destroyed in fire two decades ago, never to be rebuilt, said Jayaprakash Lawande, a Panaji resident.

Datta Sakhalkar, owner of Barberia Real, recalls that when he started the saloon 68 years ago, a shave cost 25-paise and a hair-cut Rs 1.50.

He has retained everything from the opening day: chairs, spray-pumps, and the tradition of workmen in white uniforms.

The first blow to the Barberias in Panaji was influx of hair designers from Andhra Pradesh in ‘80s.

 "They brought in the competition. They also offerred their traditional services like head massage and facials, which we never imitated," he said.

The second blow was the high-end, expensive saloons, who employ women from the north-east.

 "The business has gone down. Earlier there would be queues in front of the shop. Now we have to wait for the customers," a workman at one of the barberias said.


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great institution. sad,its fast going down .i hope it does not become history so soon.

- c.k., goa | 08 th August 2011 18:19

 

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