The dusty alley that powers India’s Silicon Valley

It’s a hot Sunday morning in Bangalore when I make my way over to the silicon alley of India’s Silicon Valley. SP Road, officially Sadar Patrappa Road, is fondly known as Spare Parts Road.

I’m there to help a friend sell his 5-year-old Macbook Pro. For those of you who are unfortunately addicted to Apple products, you’ll know this is a laughable attempt. Like two wheelers, Apple products have the tendency to depreciate in value with each passing day.

Once we set foot on the road – my friend armed foolishly with a white Apple drawstring bag – we’re accosted by reverse hawkers. I call them that because this is the first time I’ve experienced someone pitching me to sell instead of buy.

We dodge a few guys and step into a large store that’s advertising computer repairs on a flashing screen. My friend pulls out his laptop and sets it on the desk. Turning it on opens up a screen that’s showing nothing but gray lines. The keyboard doesn’t really work. This store refuses us.

This shop has counterfeit phones on lit-up shelves. I spy a ‘Smamsung Gyalax’.

“Selling your laptop, madam?” another reverse hawker asks as we step out onto the street. I nod this time, and he takes us to a small store around the corner. There, a young man looks through my friend’s laptop, which thankfully has stopped showing those horrid lines.

I tell him that I won’t take a penny under 10,000 rupees (US$150), and that the Macbook was bought for 100,000 rupees (US$1500). He scrutinizes me carefully and scowls, “9,000 rupees (US$135).”

I try not to show my incredulousness that anyone would actually want to buy this piece of junk. I act thoughtful. “9,500 and that’s a bargain,” I say. He shuts the laptop and tells us to wait where we are.

We’re a little nervous about where he’s taken the laptop and fidget like two fish out of water sitting on plastic chairs, but his three friends who are lounging around assure us that everything will be alright.

Soon, the landline rings. “Madam, what’s your password?” My friend wracks his brain to come up with the code that will open the computer. Nothing works, so we’re thrust back into the madness of SP Road, led by the hawker’s skinny friend.

We end up at a small shop in an inner road where a man behind a counter is examining the laptop. This shop looks a bit more legitimate and has counterfeit phones on lit-up shelves. I spy a “Smamsung Gyalax”.

An answer for everything