I’m Pradip Adur, a Mumbai based retired senior, who worked as a Diesel Mechanic for a reputed company in Railway sector. Despite of hectic work schedule, I never missed out on enjoying my childhood passion of playing harmonica. I must have been around 14 years old when I first got introduced to the instrument being played by a performer in an orchestra during a Ganesh festival’s cultural programme. The musician played “Yaad kiya dil ne kaha ho tum…” in a small instrument which, I later found out, was called as mouthorgan (harmonica).  I was awestruck by the tune and the sound of harmonica.  I became mad about it and decided to get one for myself. The very next day I went to a store and purchased one Hero brand’s mouthorgan for Rs.35/-  

Then whenever I used to get some free time from studies, or rather get fed-up, I tried to play my Harmonica. I knew how to whistle songs by blowing and drawing my breath. So the same principle I applied on it and the first song that I somewhat got properly on my Harmonica was from the film Jugnu – “Pyaar ke is khel mein…”.

In 1986, we came to Dombivli.  This is a small city but covered all activities trekking, cycling, sports, singers, instrumental musical players, drama, theatre, etc.  In 2015 I had been to Indore for IMPM (Indian Mouthorgan Players Meet) as a delegate.  This function was for 2 days. Mouthorgan players from all over India were joining.

After that I started a regular get-together of harmonica lovers in Dombivli every Sunday, from morning 10.30 to 12.30, where we would meet at Savarkar Garden to enjoy our music.  Other people in the park also used to come to us and enjoy listening to our playing.  Incidentally our group became famous with different players who played instruments such as Mouthorgan, Flute, Guitar, Mandolin, Melodica, Flexible Keyboard, Bongo, Dholak, etc.

Now, after retirement, with time in hand I’m playing harmonica in senior citizen’s meet-up and society’s cultural programs. Other than harmonica, I’m a passionate cyclists and coin collector.