Abuthahir M.A., a 42-year-old enthusiast, has dedicated his passion to collecting antique radios from various regions including Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. He mentions, “Earlier I used to ask the older people about the history of these radios. Now the information is easily available from the internet.”
Among his prized possessions is a Gerard’s Philips Radio from 1956, which stands out as his most expensive acquisition. He recounts the story of its purchase: “It weighs 70 kg and was for sale at a house in Namakkal in 1999. Just as I reached there, I found another man carrying it away in an auto! I was sad but my search for a similar radio continued and, nearly a year later, I found one at Thoothukudi. I bought it for Rs. 16000,” recalls Abuthahir.