Wood and Bamboo Craft Occupations in British Garhwal

  British Administration in Garhwal   -198

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -218

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1051

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

      People called kitchen and house hold utensils as ‘Katho-Mato’. Kath means wood and Mato means earth, earthen or soil. 

    Farmers also used to make themselves many utensil items by wood, fibers, grass and bamboo. 

  Chuneri Harijans used to make wood utensils as Mana, patha, parat, bawls, spatulas, plates, milk and curd utensils. The wood Craftsmen used Geenthi or Sandan for making wood utensils. huneris were expert of making fine and durable wood utensils. Pilgrims also used to buy such wooden utensils at Chattis.

    In Malla Dhangu, Jaspur, Saur, Thantholi villages wood craftsmen used to make wood utensils. Thantholi, Kalsi Kuthar of Malla Dhangu villages were also famous for making stone utensils as deep plates, mortar etc.  The wood craftsmen of Kalifat and Maikhanda regions were famous wood craftsmen. 

  People used  various types of utensils, domestic household items made from Ringal, Bamboo and Bhenwal. Hadiya/hariya Harijans were expert of making utensils as Grain store items, soop, kandi, Solta, dulan, tokari, mats etc made by Ringal and Bamboo.  In north Garhwal, Harijans used to make carrying items as Solta or Big kandu by bamboo. Ghodo/Ghoro was also bug carrying items.  Banni and Gweel harijans were famous in Malla Dhangu for making bamboo and Bhemal items. Badi used to make combs by ringal or bamboo. Badis of Mala-Bijani of Talla Dhangu were famous for making and used to export Tehri Garhwal too.

   Kumhar or earthen utensils maker were from a specific Harijan caste – Pjain. Some upper caste people also were engaged in the earthen pot making and were called Bith –Kumar. Kumar used to make different types and sizes pitchers, hisar, parat, plates, shallow plates, badak, . Every house needed those items. However, land suitable for making earthen items was very rare. In Dhangu, Hathnur –Kuthar were famous villages in Dhangu, Maniyarsyun, langur regions for making earthen pots. Kanda (Aswalsyun), Shrinagar, Pajyana (Chandpur), pajyana (Lobha) wre famous for earthen pot manufacturing. Earthen pot makers of Shrinagar also used to produce idols. There used to be trading of earthen pots in Shrinagar.

 Banni village of Malla Dhangu was famous for making Bwan (broom) by Babul/Babad grass.

               Woolen Dress Makers

       Villagers used to get wool from sheep and used to provide wool to kolis for making woolen dresses. Pammi caste Harijan used to weave wool etc.

                     Oil Extraction

    Koli used to extract oil from oil seeds and used to take wages from oil seed suppliers.

                     Cobblers

        People rarely used to put on shoes at early British period. Rich and elite used to put on shoes. There were a couple of shoe makers on Kedarnath road.

 Later on, shoe became prestige symbol and must for comforts too. At initial period of shoe becoming popular, Nazibabad was supply center for leather and leather crafts items.

References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-456

2- Atkinson, Himalayan Districts Vol.2

3-Moorcrft et all, Travels in Hindustan Vol 1 page 9-56

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 17/10/2017 History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1052

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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

 History of British Garhwal, History of Devalgarh Garhwal; History of Badhan Garhwal; History of Barasyun Garhwal; History of Chandpur Garhwal; History of Chaundkot Garhwal; History of  Gangasalan Garhwal;  History of Mallasalan Garhwal;  History ofTallasaln Garhwal; History of Dashauli Garhwal; History of Nagpur Garhwal; Sociity  in British Garhwal. History of British Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith in Chamoli Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith of Pauri Garhwal ,  Social and Culture History of Rudraprayag Garhwal