In a way, I am also a doctor as I have revived many dead cell phones. My world revolves around the six by three shop in the busy Meenakshi Bazaar. I have been into this profession for the past 10 years., and my father Rajendran is my biggest inspiration. Even as a child I was fascinated by my father’s deep knowledge on the latest arrivals in the electronics industry. He has had a shop in the bazaar for more than 25 years and he sells foreign goods. Whenever I had time I would sit with him in the shop and he taught me the nuances of the business.
There are more than 300 shops in the bazaar and it was good learning experience for me. Later, when I finished my graduation in commerce, I wanted to become like my father. But, he advised me to do something different. Mobile phone those days was more of a fashion statement. But soon they became a necessity and people started coming to us to exchange their faulty cell phones for a new one.
I did a crash course on mobile phone mechanism at the Tamil Nadu Polytechnic and I decided to start this shop. I am now able to repair faulty cell phones. My tool box contains nearly 30 types of screw drivers, spanners and testers.
My wife Amirtha is a homemaker. I have two beautiful daughters. One is studying in third grade and the other is a toddler. I realised I would not be able to make both ends meet with this work alone, so I learnt to repair other electronic devices such as mixer grinders, television remotes, laptops, computers and DVD players.
My younger brother is a computer engineer and he helps me in my business. Now, I sell electronics accessories, mobile phone spare parts and computer capacitors. I service home theatre systems, speakers and also deal with second-hand laptops and desktops.
Over the years my customer base has burgeoned and today, I am independent. The money I earn through my work is enough to take care of my family.
(A fortnightly column on men and women who make Madurai what it is)
