Changing traditional rural industry bastion: Hand-beaten metal utensil makers of Jandiala Guru

Pages: 98-103
Sumit Goyal and A. K. Sinha (Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh)

The process of cooking and serving food has been taken to the heights of becoming an art. This has evolved to such an extent that there are highly specific ways and manners of serving certain dishes. Also there are certain special utensils for cooking some of the meals and their singular components. There are separate utensils to be used as fuel and separate ones are to be used for weddings and similar social gatherings. Then there is a whole range of designated utensils that form an essential part of the trousseau of a bride. There may be several variations from region to region. These variations are manifested in the shape and design of the utensils. Each having a particular pre-ordained purpose. Thus, the utensils used for cooking evolved through various stages from leaves, stone and wood through metals to glassware, melamine and Styrofoam. Besides the ease of use and cost effectiveness of the utensils there was the constant rider of maintenance of these vessels. The contribution of rural handicrafts is recognized for its secondary employment potential in rural areas; as a supplier of basic needs; as a factor in redistribution through assisting the landless; and for its contribution to foreign exchange.