2. Testing his formula on his own seven kiddies and his extended family of 20, all in and around Kalbadevi, Kalapi was happy there was no reaction, and the product could be used on the whole body.

3. At the time, Swadeshi Market was letting out stores mainly to members of the Bhatia community, so Kalapi, who migrated to Bombay from Jamnagar, comfortably secured a spot in the market’s Shami Gully.

4. From here he sold a range of Indian toiletries- hair oil, kum-kum, combs- in the age of Swadeshi.

5. But the store’s most popular product still remains Kalapi’s talcum powder with seven babies.

At a time when high-class British brands in Bombay were offering talcum powder in cut glass bottles with sprinkler tops and British baby brands were selling talcum powder in tins,
Prabhudas Ratansi Kalapi decided to go Swadeshi and eco-friendly.

Developing his formula for talcum powder on the one hand and unique box packaging on the other, Kalapi created a brand that was inspired by his seven kiddies.

Along with the talcum powder, that he manufactured in a factory in Kalbadevi, Kalapi also stocked other Swadeshi brands dealing in toiletries. The Aryan Brush Co.’s toothbrushes with new nylon bristles were regularly promoted- India’s Own Brush, fixed firmly by Aryan Grip . Tongue-cleaners were another popular item. For the ladies’ toilette, Kalapi supplied mogra hair oil, shringar boxes with mirrors, and hand-made jewellery boxes.

For ladies, babies and gentlemen, Kalapi Stores has remained ‘manufacturers and representatives of all essential things for the Indian toilette.’

Photos fixed firmly by Hashim Badani.