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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
'''Dwarkin''' formally known as '''Dwarkin & Son''', founded in 1875, was a pioneering [[India]]n enterprise for the sale of Western and Indian musical instruments, which attained a legendary status in the music world at [[Kolkata]] (then known, in English, as Calcutta), particularly with the development of the [[hand-held harmonium]].
'''Dwarkin''' formally known as '''Dwarkin & Son''', founded in 1875, was an Indian enterprise for the sale of Western and Indian musical instruments based in [[Kolkata]], and focused on the development of the [[hand-held harmonium]].


==History==
==History==
Dwarkin & Son was founded in 1875 by Dwarkanath Ghose as D. Ghosh and Sons at Lower [[Chitpur#Chitpur Road|Chitpur Road]] in Kolkata, mainly dealing piano tuning and repairing of musical instruments. Subsequently, it was renamed "Dwarkin" , the name as coined by composer and writer, [[Upendrakishore Ray]], combining the names of the founder and that of Thomas Dawkins, London, an instrument manufacturer from where the company imported musical instruments early on.<ref name="Livemint">{{cite web |url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/vGMw40HegRDZeKmaLkQu0N/1875-Dwarkin--Son--Soundclouding-centuries.html|author=Shamik Bag |title=1875 Dwarkin & Son|date= 13 August 2012|publisher=Livemint |access-date=2013-07-13}}</ref><ref name="Kinnear1994">{{cite book|author=Michael S. Kinnear|title=The Gramaphone Company's First Indian Recordings, 1899-1908|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3DjL3WcQ2kEC&pg=PA36|access-date=13 July 2013|date=1 January 1994|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7154-728-9|pages=36–}}</ref>
Dwarkin & Son was founded in 1875 by Dwarkanath Ghose as D. Ghosh and Sons at Lower [[Chitpur#Chitpur Road|Chitpur Road]] in Kolkata, mainly dealing piano tuning and repairing of musical instruments. Subsequently, it was renamed "Dwarkin" , the name as coined by composer and writer, [[Upendrakishore Ray]], combining the names of the founder and that of Thomas Dawkins, London, an instrument manufacturer from where the company imported musical instruments early on.<ref name="Livemint">{{cite web |url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/vGMw40HegRDZeKmaLkQu0N/1875-Dwarkin--Son--Soundclouding-centuries.html|author=Shamik Bag |title=1875 Dwarkin & Son|date= 13 August 2012|publisher=Livemint |access-date=2013-07-13}}</ref><ref name="Kinnear1994">{{cite book|author=Michael S. Kinnear|title=The Gramaphone Company's First Indian Recordings, 1899-1908|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3DjL3WcQ2kEC&pg=PA36|access-date=13 July 2013|date=1 January 1994|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7154-728-9|pages=36–}}</ref><ref name="Ghose">{{cite web
 
Dwarkanath Ghose (1847{{spaced ndash}}1928), (nickname 'Dwaka'), hailing from Sukdebpur in neighbouring [[South 24 Parganas]], founded the organisation. As a devoted and skilled worker of Harold & Co., he attracted attention of his superiors, who were Englishmen. On their advice, he opened his own shop on Bowbazar Street under the name 'Ghosh & Co. for selling musical instruments imported from England. Subsequently, he built his own workshop for manufacturing musical instruments and also established a printing press.<ref name = "Bose222">Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), 1976/1998, ''Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan'' (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, {{in lang|bn}}, p. 222, {{ISBN|81-85626-65-0}}</ref> Desh-Binodon Number,
 
Ghose was adept in modifying musical instruments as per individual needs of users and is particularly remembered for modifying the imported harmony flute and producing the hand held harmonium, which has subsequently become an integral part of the Indian music scenario.<ref name="Ghose">{{cite web
  |url=http://www.dwarkin.com/dwarkinaboutus.htm  
  |url=http://www.dwarkin.com/dwarkinaboutus.htm  
  |title=The Invention of Hand Harmonium  
  |title=The Invention of Hand Harmonium  
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  |url-status=dead  
  |url-status=dead  
}}</ref> [[Dwijendranath Tagore]] is credited with having used the imported instrument in 1860 in his private theatre, but it was probably a pedalled instrument which was cumbersome, or it was possibly some variation of the reed organ. Initially, it aroused curiosity but gradually people started playing it<ref name =  "Banglapedia">{{cite book |last=Khan |first=Mobarak Hossain |year=2012 |chapter=Harmonium |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Harmonium |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> and Ghose took the initiative to modify it.<ref name =  "Ghose"/>
}}</ref> [[Dwijendranath Tagore]] is credited with having used the imported instrument in 1860 in his private theatre, but it was probably a pedalled instrument which was cumbersome, or it was possibly some variation of the reed organ. Initially, it aroused curiosity but gradually people started playing it<ref name =  "Banglapedia">{{cite book |last=Khan |first=Mobarak Hossain |year=2012 |chapter=Harmonium |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Harmonium |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> and Ghose took the initiative to modify it.<ref name =  "Ghose"/>
in bihar #alamflute in #samastipur was founded on 1885 the first harmonium manufacturing enterprise was often to be missed in history of harmonium making.


==Harmonium==
==Harmonium==
[[File:harmonium.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Man playing a harmonium. He is pumping the bellows of the harmonium with one hand and playing the keys with the other.]]
[[File:harmonium.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Man playing a harmonium. He is pumping the bellows of the harmonium with one hand and playing the keys with the other.]]
It was in response to the Indian needs that the [[hand-held harmonium]] was introduced. All Indian musical instruments are played with the musician sitting on the floor or on a stage, behind the instrument or holding it in his hands. In that era, Indian homes did not use tables and chairs.<ref name =  "Ghose"/><ref name =  "Banglapedia"/> Ghose altered the design of the reed-board, key-board and the bellows and made the construction simpler, and easier to manipulate and repair.<ref name =  "Ghose"/>


==Music related activities==
==Music related activities==
Ghose was close to people in the [[Tagore family]] and took care of their demands for musical instruments. He was also friendly with [[Upendrakishore Ray|Upendrakishore Ray Chaudhuri]], an innovative and creative person.<ref name = "Bose222"/><ref name =  "Ghose"/> As a personal friend of  Upendrakishore Ray Chaudhuri, he visited the [[Brahmo Samaj]] regularly but  did not join the organisation formally.<ref name = "Bose222"/> When [[Jyotirindranath Tagore]] compiled a book with songs and swaralipi (Bengali musical notations) of several composers, Dwarkin published it as ''Swaralipigitimala''. In 1879, the organisation also published a magazine on musical matters, ''Binabadini'', edited by Jyotirindranath Tagore. It is claimed to be one of the first such magazines in [[Bengali language|Bengali]].<ref>Bandopadhyay, Hiranmay, ''Thakurbarir Katha'', {{in lang|bn}}, p. 111, Sishu Sahitya Sansad.</ref>
In the initial years Dwarkin sold western musical instruments such as [[piano]] and American [[Organ (music)|organ]]. They also sold books and notations on western music. That was the mainstay of their shop in Dalhousie Square. Later they started manufacturing Indian musical instruments such as [[sitar]], [[Tanpura (instrument)|tanpura]], [[esraj]] etc.<ref name = "Bose222"/>


==Successors==
==Successors==
Ghose's daughter, Kumudini Biswas and his nephew Jnanendramohan were well known in the music world.<ref name = "Bose222"/> His grandson, Pandit [[Jnan Prakash Ghosh]], [[Padma Bhushan]], was a great [[tabla]] player, who had played with most of the high ranking musicians in India.<ref>{{cite web
<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.angelfire.com/music3/tabla/ghosh.htm
|url = http://www.angelfire.com/music3/tabla/ghosh.htm
|title = Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh
|title = Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh
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[[Category:Musical instrument manufacturing companies of India]]
[[Category:Musical instrument manufacturing companies of India]]
[[Category:Indian musical instrument makers]]
[[Category:Indian musical instrument makers]]
[[Category:Companies based in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1875]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1875]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1875]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1875]]
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