A company which is the oldest, over a 140 years in the umbrella business and one among a few that covers the entire country, is Ebrahim Currim and Sons. The firm which is now run by its fourth generation of descendants, made a humble beginning with Mr. Ebrahim Currim in 1860, who was a trader in grains and provisions. He began the umbrella trade by dealing in umbrellas imported from England. The Company, which shares a pride of place in the history books for being a pioneering Indian company to manufacture umbrellas, has been mentioned in a chronicle of the old Raj titled, `True Extract From The Bombay Presidency, The United Provinces, The Punjab, Etc.' It says, "This firm, carrying on business in Princess Street, and Jooma Musjid, in Bombay, are manufacturers of umbrellas which are more extensively sold than any other throughout India, excepting perhaps in the Bengal Presidency."

Mr Aziz S. Currim, a fourth generation descendant of Mr. Ebrahim Currim and a partner in the firm, informs, "The Bengal Presidency of old is now covered by us." Ebrahim Currim's trade of selling imported umbrellas flourished so quickly that he had to set up eight shops after being in the trade for a mere eight years and that too all in one block! As is the wont with businessmen, he inducted three of his sons into the business and in 1902 set up the National Umbrella Factory. In the following year, his eldest son, Mr. Rahim, went to Europe where he studied the methods of manufacturing umbrellas and also purchased equipment and a plant for the use of the firm in Bombay. It began to manufacture its own umbrellas in the name of `Stag', a brand name which is synonymous with the company till today. Later, the company opened branches at Madras and then at Calicut. Prior to the opening of the Calicut branch, the majority of the people on the Malabar coast used palm leaves as protection against the sun and rain. "Wewere instrumental in luring the Keralites to adopt umbrellas so much so that even the purdah ladies were converted to use them in the latter part of the 19th century," states Mr. Currim proudly.

Mr. Currim informs that the business is now handled by his brother Akbar, mother Shahinda, cousins Aziz and Abbas, aunt Mumtaz and himself. Conceding that the umbrella business has opened up and there are many manufacturers today, Mr. Currim says, "We are still the pioneers in innovation. We were the first to come out with the tri-fold umbrella and then the four-fold variety. We come out with innovations every year. And the next season, our competitors duplicate it which is the best compliment any manufacturer could ever have."

This year the company has launched a unique techno savvy umbrella which is three-fold and named `Bodyguard'. The speciality of the Bodyguard is its innovative handle that incorporates a safety alarm to ward off security threats like thefts, assaults, etc. The other components of the handle includes a torchlight which is useful in blackouts and a red blink light indicating the presence of a person in the dark. Priced at Rs 390, the umbrella is a much sought after product by youngsters.

The other innovative umbrellas that have been launched by the firm includes Glow - the acrylic central part of the umbrella gives out a glow, Windrella - a windproof umbrella that does not break even if it turns turtle, Staglight - umbrella with a light on its waterproof handle, Checkmate - umbrella with a wood finish and checks on its cloth, Khushboo - umbrella that emits a fragrance when it is wet which lasts for an entire season, Stag Magic - umbrella that changes designs when wet, Spider Magic - umbrella that changes colour in the sun, transparent and plastic umbrellas, umbrellas with cartoon characters and umbrellas with a whistle attached to them for children. Then there are trendy bamboo and wooden umbrellas for the fashion conscious customers. The company also manufactures umbrellas for corporates with their specific logos and designs, beach, garden and golf umbrellas. Though the range and designs of umbrellas have widened, it is the black colour of yore which is the favourite colour of mostcustomers. "We sell the maximum umbrellas in black colour in all varieties. In fact in Kerala, 90 per cent of the men and women want umbrellas in black colour only," says Mr. Currim.

The Company has made umbrellas for dignitaries like the Dalai Lama and also for the President of India during his last visit to Mumbai. The Company's umbrellas with the Miss World logo was ordered by the organisers when the Ms World pageant was held in Bangalore. "Though it was the off season then, to our eternal luck, there was a downpour on that day, and up went the umbrellas to our great delight," says Mr.Currim smiling broadly at the thought. "We have manufactured umbrellas for foreign fashion companies and car manufacturers with their own logos. We would like to make one for the Queen. Maybe we will be called to make one for her too," states Mr. Currim hopefully.

The prices of the umbrellas range from Rs 30 to Rs 500 for normal umbrellas and Rs 299 to Rs 3000 for garden umbrellas. The size varies from the small pocket umbrella of 8 inches to 72 inches garden umbrellas.

The company has in its possession an umbrella which is 110 years old. "It was rather interesting how it came to us," intones Mr. Currim. "Some years ago, a gentleman just walked into our shop with a torn umbrella and told my grandfather that he wanted its cloth changed. When my uncle saw the umbrella he recognized it as our product. He asked the man how he had got it and was told that the umbrella belonged to his grandfather which was then passed on to his father and then to him. We realised the umbrella was nearly a 110 years old. We cajoled him to give it to us for the return of two new umbrellas. The man agreed and we have preserved the black, wooden umbrella with its torn cloth to this day!"

About the future, Mr. Currim says he would like to collaborate with foreign firms to make umbrellas for the international market. "We have made our presence felt in the Indian markets. Hopefully, my cousins and I who belong to the fourth generation can get the Stag name to staggering heights by opening our umbrellas in international arenas."