Thatheras of Jandiala Guru: Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making

Domain:Traditional craftsmanship

State: Punjab

Description:

The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru is credited for continuing the traditional technique of manufacturing brass and copper utensils in Punjab. The technique itself, using the mud-brick kiln, traditional implements, specific type of wood chips, and the specialized process of hammering the metal sheets, constitutes the traditional skills and knowledge systems of the community. The Thatheras are Khatris, a clearly defined community who work on this family business. As a community, they have a common identity based on a shared history, geographic location and ethnic beliefs. The craftsmen occupy a specific settlement, Bazar Thatherian (market of the Thatheras), Gali Kashmirian, in the small town of Jandiala Guru about 10 km from Amritsar on the Grand Trunk Road in the state of Punjab. The current community consists of 400 families that migrated here from Gujranwala in Pakistan. The utensils manufactured by the Thatheras are of a traditional type not commonly found in modern markets. The metals used, copper, brass and certain alloys, are believed to be beneficial for health. They use traditional materials for processing and polishing, such as sand and tamarind juice. The revitalization of this traditional craft should be done in a holistic manner, taking into account that it is not simply a technical process, but an entire knowledge system, linked with the identity and way of life of the community.