Hanuman Singh
Met Hanuman Singh today at the Dastkaar Mela (Crafts Fair) at Mehrauli, New Delhi. He is a "Lohar"or blacksmith. On display was some amazingly detailed work, including handmade iron replicas of common bugs. He agreed to get his pictures clicked and requested a print, which is now ready and will be dispatched in a day.
Some additional information on his particular tribe and customs:
Gadia Lohars are a nomadic community of Rajasthan, India. They are also found in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. They are lohar (ironsmith) by profession who move on from one place to another place on bullock carts, which in Hindi are called gadi, hence the name 'Gadia Lohar'. These Lohars are different from the Lohar clan of Iran, Pakistan and India. They usually make and repair agricultural and household implements.
Their origin is shrouded in legend. Their forefathers were blacksmiths in the army of Maharana Pratap of Mewar. When Mewar fell to the Mughals they pledged never to return to their homeland and never to settle anywhere else until Rana's hegemony was restored.
The bullock carts are their homes. They lead a hard life and despite the vagaries of weather and the uncertainties of their trade, they, children of the desert, are a handsome and cheerful lot and remain buoyantly dignified, unmindful of their hard life.
The Gadia Lohars are characterized by five taboos: not to return to the Chittorgarh Fort, not to live in permanently settled homes, not to light a candle at night, not to keep their cots in the carts in the light manner and not to keep a rope for drawing water from a well.They attribute their taboos to their Rajput ancestors who, it is believed prepared iron weapons for the army of a Rajput ruler of Chittorgarh but escaped from the Fort when it was attacked by Akbar.They then pledged to become a nomadic people observing the above self-imposed taboos till the freedom and glory of the Fort were revived.
Ref: Wikipedia, Dr. Davindera's book Socialisation and Education of Nomad Children in Delhi State
Hanuman Singh
Met Hanuman Singh today at the Dastkaar Mela (Crafts Fair) at Mehrauli, New Delhi. He is a "Lohar"or blacksmith. On display was some amazingly detailed work, including handmade iron replicas of common bugs. He agreed to get his pictures clicked and requested a print, which is now ready and will be dispatched in a day.
Some additional information on his particular tribe and customs:
Gadia Lohars are a nomadic community of Rajasthan, India. They are also found in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. They are lohar (ironsmith) by profession who move on from one place to another place on bullock carts, which in Hindi are called gadi, hence the name 'Gadia Lohar'. These Lohars are different from the Lohar clan of Iran, Pakistan and India. They usually make and repair agricultural and household implements.
Their origin is shrouded in legend. Their forefathers were blacksmiths in the army of Maharana Pratap of Mewar. When Mewar fell to the Mughals they pledged never to return to their homeland and never to settle anywhere else until Rana's hegemony was restored.
The bullock carts are their homes. They lead a hard life and despite the vagaries of weather and the uncertainties of their trade, they, children of the desert, are a handsome and cheerful lot and remain buoyantly dignified, unmindful of their hard life.
The Gadia Lohars are characterized by five taboos: not to return to the Chittorgarh Fort, not to live in permanently settled homes, not to light a candle at night, not to keep their cots in the carts in the light manner and not to keep a rope for drawing water from a well.They attribute their taboos to their Rajput ancestors who, it is believed prepared iron weapons for the army of a Rajput ruler of Chittorgarh but escaped from the Fort when it was attacked by Akbar.They then pledged to become a nomadic people observing the above self-imposed taboos till the freedom and glory of the Fort were revived.
Ref: Wikipedia, Dr. Davindera's book Socialisation and Education of Nomad Children in Delhi State