Someone’s trash was gold for this matchbox collector from Godhra

Vadodara: Imagine a man and that too a government official walking on the street and collecting things that might seem trash to others. But what Shantilal Parmar (61) from Godhra was actually collecting was going to be a treasure one day.
Parmar, a retired talati with the Panchmahal district administration, was always looking for empty matchboxes thrown on the roadside.He developed interest in phillumeny about 35 years ago and has not looked back since then.
“Today I have a collection of matchbox labels, matchboxes, match sticks and related items from across the globe. I have matchboxes on different topics too,” said Parmar.
Parmar pointed out that while he used to collect used matchboxes discarded by others initially, he later started exchanging these with people like him from other parts of the country. He asked people travelling to other countries and those settled there to bring him matchboxes. “I even have a good collection of matchboxes provided by hotels in various parts of the world,” he said.
While his government job was not high-flying, his hobby ensured that he got to meet prominent persons and was invited by senior officials to hold exhibitions. “I have held exhibitions on different occasions including government programmes,” he said. During such events, he met senior officials and politicians. He also got a chance to interact with former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
Parmar says that his collection now includes 25,000 to 27,000 items related to matchboxes. “I got connected to groups and even traders later. Some of the rare items I have were also purchased,” he said. A highlight of his collection is the matchbox labels manufactured between 1937 to 1945.
After matchboxes, Parmar grew curious about postal stamps and currency notes and started collecting them too. He even participated in exhibitions for postal stamps, coins and notes.
“I have Indian currency of all denominations from different periods,” he says.