As is the case elsewhere in the world, the job of a blacksmith is becoming obsolete in the country too with machines and automation becoming more popular. But for a 60-year-old man at Khenadrang village in Pema Gatshel, the craft is still a source of income to sustain his family.
Kota from Borphu village in Nanong Gewog has been practising blacksmithing for many years. But as Borphu is a remote village, he could not earn any income by creating metal artworks.
Anticipating a better prospect, the father of two along with his family moved to Khenadrang village in Zobel Gewog in 2011. And there he found a market.
“I started working as a blacksmith when I was 10. The income I earn from the art is our source of livelihood. It is difficult to sustain if I stop crafting metal,” said Kota.
As the craft involves hard physical work, Kota’s wife comes to his rescue quite often.
Despite the social stigma that the work of blacksmithing is taken up by people of the lower class, Kota and his family are passionate about the craft. And so, they are pursuing it for generations to come. Today, at a very tender age, his 12-year-old son Dawa can be seen in the workstation forging tools from iron.
Having learnt the craft from his father, he now plans to learn to become a gold and silversmith too.
“My father thinks it will be better if I learnt the craft. I will learn goldsmith and silversmith crafts later when I grow up,” said Dawa.
Today, Kota and his elder son run the family with the income they earn from the craft.
“I can earn between Nu 1,800 to 1,900 for a knife. So, I can sell at least 10 knives in a month and that is almost Nu 15,000,” said Kota.
“I get between Nu 150 to 250 each for small sickles and knives. So, I can earn almost Nu 7,000 in a month. With that money, I can buy myself stuff and also help with household expenditures. I am glad I made the right decision by learning the craft,” added Dawa.
Today, Kota is among the four blacksmiths keeping the disappearing craft alive in Khenadrang village. They mostly forge sickles and knives. Each of them earns up to Nu 20,000 every month.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Phub Gyem
