Jingle all the way, meet Aslam Gafoor, the Bangalorean who has more than 300 unique bells

One would think the film 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' played a role when you hear Aslam Gafoor's story about how he amassed a collection of 300 unique bells. For, it all started with a Swiss cowbell he bought as a souvenir for his wife-to-be in the mid-90s.
Gafoor's work as a food a beverages consultant took him far and wide and his collection only grew. His home, which is a gallery of bells of all shapes, sizes and materials -ranging from ceramic, wood, brass, terracotta, steel, glass to paper mache -represents all parts of the globe. Bells are displayed on shelves, ledges and floors. A temple bell from Tamil Nadu hangs at the entrance. You will find one with five bells hanging from a common metal string. Other is a set of precision-tuned wind chimes designed by musician and instrument designer Garry Kvistad that Gafoor picked on a trip to Europe.

“A bell is a beautiful piece of art that usually goes unnoticed,“ says Gafoor.

Gafoor points out that every place in the world has a signature bell and every bell tries to imbibe a local story through its design, shape, engraving, motif or print. His favourites include the 'SaReGaMa' musical bell from the Rann of Kutch and one from San Antonio (Texas) depicting a village scene.

As it is Gafoor's mission to source a unique bell from the place he visits, his ears are always on the look out for one. “During a visit to Coorg, I heard the sound of a bell in the distance and discovered it was a wooden bell tied to the neck of a cow,“ recalls Gafoor.

While most bells cost him Rs 100 to Rs 1,200, some expensive limited edition ones also grace his shelves. This includes a Lladro Christmas Bell 1993 edition from New York, tiny Xmas edition bells by Swarovski, a bell from NASA Kennedy Space Centre and a limited edition bell commemorating Pope John Paul II's visit to England in 1982. Gafoor's friends who know of his love for bells contribute to his collection as well.

Apart from actual bells, Gafoor does not spare things that come in the shape of bells. A bell-shaped bottle of whisky, postage stamps will bells, paintings of bells and key chains in the shape of bells are cases in point.

Gafoor now wants to use the social media to create a forum where bell-stories can be narrated.