Article abut India's nomads in Nat Geo

[shooter]

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/ ... aster-text

India’s 80 million wanderers are torn—clinging to centuries-old traditions while the modern world strips their identities away.

In their illustrious past the Gadulia Lohar forged armor for Hindu kings. Today these blacksmiths pitch camp on the outskirts of tiny Indian villages and make simple goods from metal scrap.

Read the above link for more.

[Sakobav]

nice one - may be if they are allowed to make and sell their craft like swords knives etc it would help these folks and save an art

Best

[nagarifle]

the salt for earth they sure are. just hope they all 80million do not turn up at my doorstep

[xl_target]

It's too bad that no one has set them up with a way to sell their wares to tourists.
You know like the Khadi Bhandar's selling handicrafts.
They sell brassware, I don't see why they couldn't find a market for Ironware.
It's a shame to see these ancient skill slowly disappear

[Yaj]

I have seen these Lohars around Ganganagar,Hanumangad,Abohar working from open forges set up on the roadside, turning out tools,and agricultural implements. I bought an axehead from them at Rs 50 with Rs 25 added for the handle if I remember correctly.
I find these nomads fascinating. In my search for indian dog breeds I have had contact with the kalbeliyas,bhotias,dhangars,vaidus,jogis etc. I feel they are keepers of traditional folklore,knowledge,arts and crafts,remedies which the rest of us have long forgotten. Yet I feel the time is running out for them now and soon the sands of time will cover their footprints .
Regards,
Yaj.

[hamiclar01]

Does anyone remember Sukhram nat in Rangeya Raghav's "Kab tak Pukaarun"? A great book based on the community

[timmy]

Thanks for a fascinating article. Keeping abreast of technology and modern day life, along with the skills needed to manage in a modern society, is an issue that affects all of us in one way or another. However, being 500 years behind the technology curve and not having a homeland to insulate customs from the outside world and give them a base is certainly a great obstacle to overcome. The fringes of society generally have very limited resources for helping in these sorts of circumstances, and from that aspect, their future looks grim to me.

[Vikram]

Tim,

That is something I thought about quite a few times.Without the requisite skills to sell in the modern markets,many unskilled, or those with unsaleable skills, people are doomed.There is a humongous need to invest in retraining and reskilling our predominantly rural population.By the time it happens, many millions would be ground down in the mills.

Best-
Vikram

[shooter]

Thanks to tourism industry in rajasthan, some of these tribes have seen a 'revival'. and that might have slowed down or postponed their 'cultural disintegration'.

Since this article mentioned arms armour, i thought this gives me a valid reason to post it on this forum and make people aware of their plight.

[brihacharan]

> It is indeed heart rendering to note that once makers of arms, shields, spears, swords and other armaments for kings and rulers are now termed as "Nomads". Are they nomads by design or default?
> The Brits did a whole lot of things to suit their convenience - Independence and the abolition of Royal Pricipalities created a big vacuum in which the Lohars neither got sucked in nor got thrown out - they remained suspended - neither here nor there.
> Govt. should have recruited them in steel plants, auto industries, defense armament production and such industries because of their skills in metal working. Somehow this did not happen unfortunately.
> The result 'the instinct for survival' got the better of them!
> NGOs should organize this community - get their children educated - provide low cost housing - medical facilities and help them regain their lost dignity.
> If this doesn't happen sooner or later the Lohars will join the ranks of the "Vanishing Tribes".
> Lastly the only place where they will find a good resting place is the "Coffee Table Books" one sees in the lobbies / foyers of 5 star hotels or libraries - Glossy publications printed on expensive paper with dramtically composed photographs, hard bound & gold embossed!!!
Brihacharan