CHENNAI: At a recent coin exhibition in Chennai, numerous booths were set up displaying ancient coins, discontinued banknotes, woven stamps and more. On a corner table, however, stood a collection of antiques gathered by collector G Raja Stanish from all over Tamil Nadu.
Stanish’s business card states his collection includes coins, stamps, radios and clocks. Like most other collectors in India, his did in fact begin with currency notes and coins. However, over time it expanded to much more.
Included in his collection are coins, keys, documents, irons, pulley weights, radios, clocks and lanterns. He showed some of the oldest items he brought, including a key from south of Tamil Nadu which he claimed was 300 years old, and old documents including an anglo-saxon war map and licenses for bicycles, cars, bikes and carts.
So how does Stanish procure them “I got the keys from my friends, as well as from people who are not interested in keeping their old family items,” He said. “Actually, many people throw them into the trash outside, and that’s where I get more and more of my collection.”
Stanish also spoke on some special clocks in his possession. “I have some special clocks in my collection that have different sounds when the clock chimes. One clock plays Tamil music, and that’s a part of my special collection,” he said.
According to Stanish, he has spent more than `10 lakh to develop his collection. “Basically I’m an insurance agent, and this is my hobby. I love this hobby, which is why I’ve built this collection. It’s where I spent most of my time and money.” The insurance side of his life includes life, vehicles and property insurance.
Based out of Tuticorn — otherwise known as Thoothukudi — in south Tamil Nadu, he keeps his entire collection on his land where he has a whole house dedicated to his display. People from the neighboring villages visit often, and he welcomes mostly students in to see his collection, free of charge.