Dwarkin

Dwarkin formally known as Dwarkin & Son, founded in 1875, was a pioneering Indian 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 & Son was founded in 1875 by Dwarkanath Ghose as D. Ghosh and Sons at Lower Chitpur Road in Kolkata, mainly dealing piano tuning and repairing of musical instruments. Subsequently, it was renamed was "Dawrkin" was 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.

Dwarkanath Ghose (1847 – 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. 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.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 and Ghose took the initiative to modify it.

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. Ghose altered the design of the reed-board, key-board and the bellows and made the construction simpler, and easier to manipulate and repair.

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