People develop hobbies to spend their leisure hours. Some develop hobbies that are common while others love doing strange things. Hobbies turn into habits and later into passion. Such is the case with Shivrup Tiwari—collecting complimentary matchboxes is his hobby or rather his passion.

The seed of this unique pastime was sown during his childhood. During his school days, Shivrup collected stamps and coins. Later in life, his son too developed similar hobbies and borrowed all his collections from him.

Shivrup was on the lookout for something to do when he first noticed the matchboxes, and there was no looking back after that for him.

It all started in 1975 during one of his business trips, when he noticed a complimentary matchbox in an Indian Airlines flight and he gradually began collecting such matchboxes wherever he found them, which eventually developed into an interesting hobby.He went on collecting these matchboxes during his visits to various places in India and abroad. He visited many countries like Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, Indonesia, Singapore, Poland, France, England, Latin America and Europe during the course of his professional career. He retired as General Manager of Corporate Public Relations of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited and at present is the Secretary General of the Public Relations Society of India, National Council. He has a well-maintained collection of around 3,000 colorful matchboxes. The collection includes complimentary matchboxes of hotels, banks, restaurants, consumer items, clubs, government guest houses, international airlines , from most of the countries in the world.The maximum number of matchboxes are from Russia, of course after India. His friends help him out in his endeavor and whenever they find such matchboxes, whether in India or in any other country, they bring them along for him.

When asked what he will do with the match-boxes Tiwari said: "These matchboxes remind me of my friends and fill my heart with pleasant memories of different and beautiful people and places."

For Tiwari, this is not just a mere collection of simple matchboxes. This is a collection of memories.