Tarn Taran Diary; Families of shoe-makers strive to keep profession alive

On Muradpur road in Tarn Taran, once known as the market of shoe-makers (Mochian Wala Bazar), a few families have been making all efforts to keep their traditional profession alive. The profession was on the verge of losing its existence. These families are of Ramdasie caste (also known as the Chamar, Chaudhry, Dhidharmi etc) which are listed among the Scheduled Castes in the official record. In the bazaar, there were once more than 35 shops of shoe-makers with as many as 400 workers earning their livelihood well. Some more such shops were in the town at Adda Bazar, Jandiala road, Noordi road, around Darbar Sahib complex in Mohalla Jaswant Singh locality and at some others places too. Lakhbir Singh (68), is one of those who is making great efforts to keep the traditional profession alive in the area in spite of great hardships. Lakhbir Singh said that nearly all shopkeepers working in the bazaar had migrated from Pakistan at the time of partition. He said that his forefathers used to say that they were earlier settled in Lahore (Pakistan) and the shoes of Lahore were famous in markets around the world. He said that they shifted to Hoshiarpur district and then came to Tarn Taran where their business flourished as in the Majha area, the population of their caste was less, which helped them to establish their profession easily in the market. He said as their families were hardworking by nature, it was their good luck that their children managed to become well qualified and even entered services like the IAS/IPS. They also became doctors, teachers and worked in various government departments from 1960s onward. He disclosed that there were just one or two known shoe companies nationally in the market and most people, specially farmers, labourers, students and other sections including the womenfolk, used to wear handmade shoes. There were many varieties of these handmade shoes which include the traditional Dhauri di Jutti, Khussa, Tille Wali Jutti and shoes for the womenfolk with tilla embroidery. Before partition, the Khussa and Tille Wali Jutti of Lahore was the choice of upper classes. He said that on two days of the monthly Chaudas-Amas Mela of Tarn Taran, their traditional shoes used to be sold in large numbers. During the remaining days of the month, their shoes were sold in less number. Lakhbir Singh who along with his son Gurwinder Singh (38) is in the fifth generation of shoe-making profession, said it has become tough to keep their traditional profession alive as the next generation is not ready to pursue it. Lakhbir Singh and his son Gurvinder Singh have the technique to make shoes of different varieties in attractive designs. Lakhbir Singh said that after the days of terrorism, the imposition of GST is a major reason for the present fate of their traditional profession which has even affected the well-established industrial units. He added that there were once as many as 80 industrial units of leather in Jalandhar which have been reduced to just a few. Similar is the fate of leather industry at other places too. The Jalandhar market was well established at the international level. Lakhbir Singh said that the profession may still survive in case the Union and the State Government spare a thought as it has the potential to give people a chance to earn their livelihood well.

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Kar Sewa sect works with a difference

The Kar Sewa sect, Sarhali, which was established more than 65 years back by Baba Tara Singh has become well-known among devotees across the country and also abroad. As Baba Tara Singh was a celibate (Brahamchari), he devoted his whole life to religious activities and used to think day and night for the betterment of society. He not only worked in the field of religion but in the year 1970, established the only college in Sarhali village, named Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College. The sect got much recognition among the people during the floods in the year 2023. Baba Sukha Singh, the present head of the sect, performed much physical work to serve the flood-affected farmers and other residents. He assisted the administration in plugging breaches that occurred in the Beas and Sutlej rivers at several places. The sect, in its annual congregation organised recently, solemnised mass marriages of 28 needy couples. Also on the occasion, 18 Sikhs were baptised with Amritpan by Panj Piaras. The sect also organises blood donation camps often. The sect has launched a plantation drive too besides running a number of educational institutes besides other social activities. The sect has registered as many as 100 youths for work in case of need for which the sect has been honoured by the administration also.

Listen to problems of Jodhpur villagers

The residents of Jodhpur village have been facing great inconvenience because of the stench from the stagnant water in the drain passing through the village. The drain comes under the canal department through which the river water is supposed to be supplied to the fields but the water of this drain never reaches the fields as it stinks and the farmers do not want to take any risk of a disease outbreak. It is serious that the drain is being used to dispose of waste water of the houses of Jodhpur residents and the irrigation department never prohibits the residents. At the same time, the authorities have made no alternative arrangements to dispose of waste water of the houses in the village pond. The residents have been demanding an early solution to their genuine problem.

Contributed by Gurbaxpuri