Stories of our ancestors using khukuris to combat the enemy’s rifles are common in our histories. However, along the way, we tend to overlook the stories of the hands that crafted these iconic weapons. Even today, the historically marginalised Kami community is still socially excluded.
Known for maintaining the nation’s agricultural and metalworking heritage, the Blacksmiths groups continue to face caste-based discrimination despite the caste system being legally abolished in 1963.
Additionally, changes brought about by industrialisation have caused the blacksmith trade to gradually decline. Technology has replaced the need for time-consuming, meticulous and intricate design labour. Factories can now mass-produce, replacing the handcrafted metalwork.
Once essential to the community, the traditional trade is in danger of disappearing as a source of income, which would have an impact on the trade’s cultural and financial significance.
Even though blacksmithing is still common, not everyone who practises has access to contemporary tools. They still rely on traditional techniques of metalworking, using instruments like hammers and anvils.
Modern Tools: A Solution for the Blacksmiths
Now, is there a way to help revive this dying profession? One such way might be equipping them with modern tools to work faster and produce higher-quality products.
Khukuri House Handicraft Industry (KHHI), better known as KHHI Nepal, has been one of the largest manufacturers and retailers of original khukuri since 1989, also being the official supplier and maker for the British Gurkhas on many occasions.
Founded by ex-Gurkha soldiers Mr Til Bahadur Bishwakarma and Mr Lalit Kumar Lama, KHHI was born out of a desire to preserve the age-old knowledge of blacksmithing.
Recognising the socio-economic challenges, organisations like KHHI have initiated programmes such as “Support Our Kamis”. This initiative aims to uplift the living standards of blacksmiths by providing basic needs and social welfare support, helping them overcome barriers rooted in traditional myths and social stigma. Additionally, it seeks to ensure that the craft of khukuri making does not vanish with time due to neglect and economic hardship.
Others include the Swedish cross pein hammer, essential for creating and shaping metal objects. Thak Ironworks, a blacksmithing company based in Canada, can supply these hammers. They focus on individual metal orders that blend classic blacksmithing with contemporary design, offering an array of blacksmithing tools that could greatly benefit Nepali craftsmen.
Another important tool is the anvil, used for shaping and lengthening metal. Professional Farrier Supplies in Ontario recommends the 35-pound Cliff-Carroll anvil for blacksmiths in Nepal. Compact and portable, the anvil allows swift relocation.
A rural blacksmith could transport it with the help of animals or carry it on their back. Updating the tools would preserve the quality of the products and increase the productivity.
Socioeconomic Discrimination
The ways other communities interact with Blacksmiths reveal that societal prejudices run deep. They seek the services of blacksmiths for ironwork and other tasks but do not consider them equal in society.
This unequal exchange is evident as they give food and grain in return for the blacksmiths’ products while also ensuring that the blacksmiths remain socially separated, particularly about food and water, considered “impure” or unhygienic.
One of the many examples includes Manbir Kami, a metalsmith from Sindhupalchowk, who recalls being forced to fetch water before sunrise to avoid confrontation at public water sources, as Dalits were not allowed to collect water alongside higher castes.
There still is stigma of impurity associated with social vices, witchcraft, and jealousy, set against the backdrop of wealth and prosperity. These outdated perceptions enable their economic exploitation, among other forms of discrimination.
The Struggle for Modernity
The Kami community show a clear willingness to embrace modernity and improve their traditional blacksmith occupation, but affordability and access to modern tools remain significant challenges.
Kamali Bishwakarma, a blacksmith from Sikkim, showed a strong desire to use technology when she found that using a metal grinder increased her productivity after completing government-funded training.
However, the fact that such training and access to tools are often “government-funded” or provided through external support means they often cannot afford these advancements on their own.
A case study of Kami access to charcoal, one of the main products used in their craft, disclosed that community forestry programmes in Nepal often exclude Kami from collecting charcoal freely, forcing them to buy it at market prices.
This increases production costs and reduces profitability, and there is little opportunity to improve shop conditions or invest in new equipment. The study concludes that Kami blacksmiths cannot modernise their craft without the help of highly external resources, such as subsidised fuel or equipment, despite their desire to do so.
Government Efforts
Even though there isn’t a single industry that is exclusively focused on the community, they do exist within larger industrial market segments that provide employment opportunities for about 400,000 people, including those who are marginalised.
Legal frameworks such as the National Dalit Commission and various acts (e.g., NFDIN Act 2002, National Human Rights Action Plan 2005) aim to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Dalits, including the Kami.
But industrial or economic support is limited. Some vocational training workshops, like those run by Khukuri House, offer practical training in traditional blacksmithing skills, contributing to the preservation of the craft and generating income-earning opportunities.
The government and other non-governmental organisations have encouraged Kami participation in small-scale industries, handicrafts, and other local businesses by providing financial loans, training, and assistance in accessing markets.
Another example is the implementation of vocational training programmes and capacity-building initiatives to help Kami artisans adapt their current skill set to the demands of the contemporary marketplace and transition into related professions.
However, there are still problems. Discrimination due to lack of access to modern technology and financial resources, as well as social discrimination, are some of the obstacles that have continued to deprive them of the opportunity to participate fully in the emerging industries.
The Path Forward
Providing blacksmiths with modern tools from small businesses like Thak Ironworks and Professional Farrier Supplies could breathe new life into their trade. This collaboration could open new opportunities for global market expansion, offering small businesses international prospects while helping preserve a traditional craft.
Empowering blacksmiths with the tools and support they need will help break the cycle of socio-economic dependence, elevate their status within their communities, and preserve a key part of Nepal’s cultural heritage.
Maintaining the dignity of Blacksmiths and their craft requires that they have the resources to adapt and prosper as the nation’s economy continues to be shaped by modernisation.
Pratikshya Bhatta is a junior editor with Nepal Connect.
