With a childlike excitement homemaker Nirmala Jeyabalan gazes at the 4 by 5 feet wooden rack she got custom-made with a metal lining to house her exclusive collection of magnets and miniatures. The 66-year-old’s eyes light up each time she tells the story behind each magnet bought. “Those are the first ones I bought on my maiden trip to USA in 1973,” she points to the brightly coloured pop-arty miniature magnets of a piece of popcorn and a Coco-cola pet bottle. “That was the time when coco-cola and popcorn were popular fast food in the US. I was fascinated to see and eat something that was not heard of in India. In New York City, I bought magnets designed like popcorn and the soft drink,” recalls Nirmala. What started as a casual hobby turned into passion and Nirmala on her whirlwind trips would look for peculiar and special magnets thereafter. Now, she boasts of hundreds of miniatures and magnets designed like various lifestyle products, kitchen items and machineries.
Showing a tiny magnet designed like a vintage washing machine, Nirmala says, “This is how the washing machine of the 70s looked like. It was open and more like a wet grinder. Some of the magnets – juke box, lotto machine, radio, piano and coffee grinder – depict the lifestyle of the West of yesteryears.
When ovens and cake mixing machines had not entered Indian kitchens, I not only bought the products but also the working magnets designed like a juicer, food processor, toaster and waffle maker. “All are battery operated and emit sounds and lights. For instance, the piano magnet plays music and the coffee machine emits the sound of coffee beans being roasted.”
Nirmala’s collection is vast and varied as there are no two magnets alike.
“Apart from European countries and South East Asia, she has magnets from far off places like Alaska and the North pole. These days, magnets are generally made with a mould and I find the minute detailing missing in them,” she says.
“Whenever I look at my collection, memories of my leisure and business trips come back. I remember the lotto machine magnet I bought at Las Vegas. It blinks light and turns numbers when pressed.”
“Nowadays travelling has become easier and hassle free. But in those days, we rarely travelled and therefore, I treasure these magnets more than my most valuable possessions. They are my most precious souvenirs.”
Nirmala says her inspiration came from Idhayam Pesukirathu, a travel column in one of the leading Tamil journals in those days. “And of course,” she adds, “I was lucky enough to get the opportunities to travel far and wide.”
She takes utmost care of her magnets cleaning them every six months and keeping them out of reach of her grandchildren. “My grandchildren comment that the magnets are paati’s playthings,” she laughs.
Over the years, Nirmala’s relatives and friends have also contributed to her collection. “They all would buy me a magnet or two while returning from their trips abroad. People also gift me magnets knowing that I have a penchant for them,” she says. “I don’t know if my children will be interested in maintaining the collection. I would like to pass it on to people who are interested.”
(My Collection is a fortnightly column. We invite readers to tell us about their personal and rare collectables. E-mail maduraimetroplus@thehindu.co.in)
