Guitars are a must-have for college hangouts, home functions, or music evenings. For people who are into music, but not enough to make a living from it, the hexastring is one of their primary leisure activities. The popularity of the guitar is nothing new. However, little is known about the ‘guitar village’ that exists in the eastern part of the country.
Located in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, the village of Chandithala Kaugachi is a hub for guitar making. Guitars are made in every house in this village. You can’t hear someone playing a guitar, but you can hear guitars being made everywhere.
This village in the Shyamnagar area of North 24 Parganas has several guitar factories. On the left and right sides of the road, only tools for making guitars can be seen. But how is this instrument made?
Chandithala Kaugachi village in West Bengal is a center of guitar making. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)
“Previously, most guitars were made in factories in the Dum Dum area. Here, guitars were mostly painted and polished. From person to person, at some point whole villages started making guitars like this,” said Kokong Roy, owner of a guitar factory in Chandithala Kaugachi.
Today, guitars are distributed not only in the state but also abroad. He added that countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan have a very high demand for guitars from this village. Khokon has been in the guitar manufacturing business for the past 20 years.
Countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan have a very high demand for guitars from this village. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)
Bab Mondal, 35, who works in one of the guitar factories, said: Since the guitar factory was built in the village, everyone is earning a good income while working here. ‘ He said, ‘The villagers had no idea about making these instruments.
There are many types of guitars, but only 5 or 6 are made in this village. Golanim wood from Assam is imported to make these guitars.
Since the guitar factory was built in the village, everyone is earning a good income while working here. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)
“The first step in making a guitar starts with the neck. It is cut to size and arrives at the fitting room. , Plywood is glued on both sides, fixed with nuts and screws, and dried in the sun.Next is the fitting, that is, the work of joining the neck and body.After completion, it is sent to the polishing room.There, painting and polishing are performed. And then it’s sent to the main room.This is where the tuning of the guitar begins.This is where the strings are installed.Then the whole guitar is finished, packed to order and sent to various destinations.” Babu explained.
Demand for these guitars is from overseas buyers rather than local customers. (Express photo by Shashi Ghosh)
Demand for these guitars is more from overseas buyers than local customers, according to workers and factory owners. Businessmen from different countries and abroad order guitars from our factory here at wholesale prices.
A guitar is more than just an instrument. It’s a cultural indicator. Such a beautiful confluence of village and city is only possible through music, and in this case the guitar is the vehicle.
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