Jagannath Salon

You can find Jagannath Salon at 15/3, Surendra Seth Lane. It’s a narrow lane in Kolkata - 700006, and it can be easy to miss if you aren't looking for it. The building is old, like many others in this part of town. We’ve been working out of this single room for a long time. The walls are painted a pale green that’s peeling a bit near the ceiling. We have two chairs, but usually, only one is being used at a time. The scissors need sharpening every now and then, and the spray bottle sometimes leaks on your hand. It’s not the kind of place you’d go for a makeover, just a regular spot to get your hair shortened. Elderly men from the neighborhood have been coming to us for decades. They like to complain about the weather or the price of vegetables while they sit in the chair. We don't mind. It’s part of the day. The floor is concrete and stays cool even when it’s boiling outside. Sometimes we forget to turn off the radio at night and find it still buzzing the next morning. We keep the door propped open with a brick to let some air in. It’s a simple life on Surendra Seth Lane. We don't try to be anything we aren't. We just provide a place for a basic haircut and a bit of a rest from the sun.