ndians were always extremely active, mobile and nomadic. They performed the daily chores by themselves and it kept them in good health. Fetching water from the well, farming, gardening, squatting on the floor to sweep and mop was a part of their daily chores which contributed to healthy physical activity. The average longevity of life in India, then, was approximately between the age of 80yrs and 90yrs and even at that age, people still continued to do their daily routines. Eventually when they grew old, their body began to bend and so they began using walking sticks. It was then, when walking sticks became a necessity to aid their balance while walking. But subsequently, when servants started dominating their daily chores, their physical activities decreased and the walking sticks became a part of their life at much earlier stages of life. The walking stick first emerged from a branch of a tree. But in some parts of India, especially in the South, walking sticks became a status symbol and a fashion statement amongst the rich.

This was prevalent among the Zamindars (rich landlords). The Zamindars had their own collection of walking sticks and the more they owned, the wealthier they were said to be. A variety of materials such as teakwood, animal spine and bones, plastic and steel were used to produce walking sticks. Walking sticks made out of dead animal spines and bones were known to be rare and expensive. Hence owning one then, was surely a symbol of wealth. This walking stick exhibited here, approximately 100 years old is made out of the spine of the dogfish shark. A recent discovery states that an anticancer extract derived from the spine of the dogfish shark appears to double the survival time for patients suffering from deadly kidney cancer, giving patients who have exhausted all other options, an extra 8 months of life. This walking stick has been sourced out from a wealthy Zamindar family. This walking stick is part of the personal antique collection of Mr. Steve Borgia and his family.