Jodhpur Pakhar keeping tradition alive

Jodhpur Pakhar keeping tradition alive
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Jodhpur Pakhar (Bathinda), October 21
Jodhpur Pakhar, a dusty village in Bathinda district, once renowned for the making of spinning wheel (charkha) throughout the state is now rapidly losing its sheen with the changing times.
The village, where almost every house was involved in making spinning wheels has now only 78 families, who are still in the profession that too not for love of money but to keep the tradition and custom alive.



During a visit to the village, it was found that the charkha, which was an essential part of the dowry of girls, is now waiting for hands to spin it because of changing lifestyle.
An artist-cum-carpenter Sant Singh, who is in his mid-seventies said his family was in the trade for the last three generations. His son also has some knowledge of the trade. But he mentioned that making charkhas does not fulfill the basic needs of a family. The earning is less than that of a daily wager. “To earn our livelihood, we are dependent on agriculture,” he said.
“Making charkha is a handicraft and the wood used is special in quality, which is named “Rahuda”. When it was needed in bulk, we used to buy it from Sirsa. But now we get it from Abohar, Malout and even at Bathinda,” Sant singh disclosed.
About the price he said, “The big charkha is sold around Rs 1300, but the smaller ones are costlier as people demand fancy ones. Even some show pieces are made, which we sell at Rs 600 only.”
Showing a small spinning wheel, for which the order had been advanced for sending it to Canada, he pointed towards the glasses fitted in it to make it attractive. Making of such charkhas takes five to seven days, he added.
Joginder Singh, another carpenter, said, “Though we earn nothing as the demand for Charkha is almost nil, we have been making it just to keep the popularity of our family alive. I do the work with my own hands but after such hard work, what I receive is very less.”
When asked, whether the department of handicraft or rural development had approached them for the upliftment of the trade, they denied.
“Earlier, people had to wait for the delivery of their ordered charkhas but now we keep waiting for customers. It is all due to the modernisation of society as girls themselves do not want to take charkhas in dowry, terming it useless,” said an elderly carpenter Kulwant Singh, in a choked voice.
The day is not far, when the writers and lyricist will stop mentioning charkhas in their songs which are an inherent part of Punjabi traditions.