SIOLIM: In an era where traditional jobs are fading among the youth, Sarvesh Korgaonkar, a 38-year-old resident of Korgao, Pernem, stands out for having run his hair salon in Siolim for the past 25 years.
Sarvesh, who took up the scissors at the tender age of 13 due to family compulsions, inherited the salon from his father, who had been operating it for nearly 50 years at the Siolim ferry wharf market. The bustling market area along the Chapora River was once filled with activity, and the local barber shop was a community hub where patrons treated the senior barber as a father figure.
Speaking emotionally about his journey, Sarvesh revealed, “My father’s was the only salon here at that time, and people would flock to him considering him to be their own father. It was solely with this business that he brought us four children (three girls and one boy) up. I studied partly here and partly at Usgao, and owing to family compulsions, I had to give up my studies at age 13, and take up the scissors.”
The turning point in Sarvesh’s life occurred when his father fell seriously ill, and was almost on his deathbed, leaving no family support. Shouldering the responsibility of ensuring his three sisters got married and settled, Sarvesh found himself at a crossroads – and decided that family came first, and he had to do whatever was necessary to keep them out of poverty.
Despite facing hardships and braving the long commute by bus and ferry to reach the salon from Korgao, Sarvesh persevered and successfully managed to support his family- he ensured that his parents received good medical treatment, bringing them back from the jaws of death when they fell ill. “They are hale and healthy now, and with my income from the salon, I have also managed to get all three of my sisters married off and settled well,” he says, proudly, while admitting he never found time for marriage, himself.
“During my father’s tenure, a haircut and shave cost around Rs 10 and when I took over, 25 years ago, we charged Rs 50 for both services. Now, it is around Rs 100 to Rs 120 for a haircut and shave, per person,” he says.
“Although I have been trying for a government job, I am happy with what I am doing now. If I could successfully run my family for the last 25 years with this income and with the support of some well-wishers, the future is also easy,” he says, optimistically. Sarvesh shares that he is the ‘pet’ barber of many Siolkars, as he is polite and welcomes all his patrons with a smile. However tired he may be attending to customers on a busy day, doing a job that requires him standing all the time, Sarvesh says he never lets the tiredness show on his face. “It’s a very social job- and when people start chatting with me when I’m cutting their hair, I do not feel tired at all,” he quips.
Sarvesh’s commitment to his profession is evident in his daily routine. Opening his shop every day by 10 am sharp, he keeps it running throughout the day, bringing his own food and closing only after 8 or 8.30 PM. His dedication extends beyond personal comforts, with work taking precedence. “No job should be considered low. It is just our mentality that needs to be changed. If non-Goans come here and do this job, what is preventing us from doing the same job? We must uphold our traditions, our family legacies and our Goanness,” asserts Sarvesh.
