Tanore, Sept 4 (V7N) — Across towns and markets in Tanore’s Gollapara, Kaliganj, Krishnapur, Mundumala, and Taland, a long-standing tradition is quietly fading. The “knee‑station” barbers—known locally as nôrsundôr, shil, or napit—who once sat on simple wooden platforms in open bazaars, using their knees to steady razors and scissors, are increasingly rare.
 
These itinerant barbers were fixtures of rural life. Customers often gathered around as they snipped hair and trimmed beards under the shade of trees or beside jetties, just as rural communities have sought to look presentable through generations. These barbers, who passed their skills from father to son, relied on minimal tools and rustic seating—setting up on ground-level benches at weekly haats and along market pathways.
 
Now, the surge of modern salon culture—complete with air-conditioning and elevated chairs—is replacing their presence even in village markets. While a few practitioners still uphold this legacy, much like Ranajit Shil and Bhupen Shil from Kamarganj Union’s Malar Mor, their livelihoods are dwindling. Ranajit, sitting on his wooden platform at Choubadia Haat, says: “I have been grooming people here—on this bench, as my ancestors did—for nearly forty years. I keep the tradition alive, but business is slow. Few wish to sit on the ground these days.” Bhupen, another long‑time barber, earns about Tk 300–400 daily but finds the work tiring due to his age and the shift in customer preference.
 
Villagers still value this traditional service for its affordability and familiarity. “I have been coming here for ten years,” says day‑laborer Tayeb Ali, who used to be brought by his father. “I can’t let go of his KNEE‑barber habits. It’s cheaper—just Tk 40 instead of Tk 80 or more at a salon.” Another worker, Obaidur, adds that modern salons are unaffordable with his limited means, making these bench barbers his preferred choice.
 
Experts and community leaders express concern that while modernization has benefits, the cultural and social value of such traditional artisans risks being erased. These barbers are not just service providers—they are living links to rural heritage that shaped how communities saw themselves and socialized in public spaces.
 
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