Rohit Kashyap was in Class V when he realised that all of his friends had some hobby or the other. This got him thinking. Immediately after, he strolled on the streets, picking up empty matchboxes on the go. “Everyone was collecting something. Some were collecting coins, others notes and stamps and so on. I wanted to do something different and at the same time, not spend much money on it,” says Rohit, who has been an avid collector of matchboxes since then.
A serious phillumenist, originally from Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, but now based in Chennai for the past six years, Rohit has a collection of over 84,000 matchboxes from 120 different countries till date.
“I started picking from the road, and do so even now. If I see someone with a new batch of matches, I don’t hesitate to go and ask,” says Rohit, adding that he also scrambles through the goods rejected by the airport security, hoping to find an interesting box of matches. “It is embarrassing, yes. Most often, I end up explaining in detail why I am doing this,” laughs Rohit.
Phillumeny is the art of collecting matchboxes and match-related items, explains Rohit adding that the number of serious phillumenists in the country can be counted on fingers. “There are different versions to a matchbox: match books, match holders, match safes and boxes made of either wood or cardboard. It is derived from Greek words that translate to love and light. So, the people who love lights are called phillumenists,” he continues. The art of phillumeny is not known to many, he observes.
“Each matchbox tells a story. When we trace matchboxes belonging to different time periods, we can see the evolution of India itself. From princely states to the freedom struggle, portraits of freedom fighters, and contemporary designs and art,” says Rohit. In India, around 1887, a matchbox factory was set up in Bengal. Till then, matches were imported from places like Sweden and Eastern Europe.
The matchboxes that were made in India had representations of gods and goddesses on their covers, or paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. “When India had princely states, the matchboxes also had representations of the states’ coins and portraits of the rulers,” continues Rohit. Historical events were invariably represented on the covers of matchboxes; some even produced as a series or a set.
In India, there are no phillumeny clubs like those in other countries. “I am a member of these international clubs and we do trade and barter,” he says. Websites that sell memorabilia have made it easier for collectors like Rohit.
International collections have a far wider variety of matchboxes. “For instance, in the US, they use matchbooks for advertisement purposes. So businesses like salons have their own matchbooks made. They use it as a business card of sorts,” says Rohit. Depending on different presidential terms and important dates, personalities and events get featured. “I have a match box with a representation of Prince Charles and Diana’s wedding,” says Rohit. Russia also produces souvenir sets based on major events, he adds.
On October 16 at 6.30 pm, Ashvita’s will host a panel called ‘Chennai My Passion – A Conversation On Collecting’ to celebrate its 16th anniversary and the launch of www.ashvitas.com
The panel will include V Sriram, heritage activist, Rohit Kashyap and Hemanth Chopra, collector of vintage coins.
Venue: Ashvita Bistro, Alwarpet
