Sunday Special-'Bhandey kali kara lo

 Sunday Special-'Bhandey kali kra lo!

Bhande kali kara-lo (Tin Coating)

In the year 1940,I was born in a village named 'Dharamgarh', my 'Nanihaal'(Parental home of mother). My parental abode was Patiala, a princely state wherein my father as well as my Grandfather were in the service of the then Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. The summer capital of the Maharaja was Shimla and after Maharaja abducted Viceroy's daughter his entry into Shimla was banned by Britishers, he made Chail as his summer capital.I completed my education right from Primary to graduation in Engineering at Patiala.I used to spend my two month's summer vacation in Shimla,Chail and Dharamgarh
In Patiala,“ Bhande kalai kara lo” “ Bhande kalai kara lo” “ Bhande kalai kara lo” (get your utensils re-tinned) was one call that used to draw attention back to the streets every day. From each household some or the other person would come out rushing with their copper or brass utensils for re-tinning process.

It is a traditional old age process of coating the alloy surface (brass or copper) by deposition of the metal tin on it. Brass and Copper kitchenware requires tin plating after every six to eight months.When any brass utensil is used for the cooking purpose, the metal copper present in the alloy reacts with organic acids present in the foodstuff to form products that may cause food poisoning. Therefore, kalai (whitewash or tin) is important before the utensil is being used for cooking and it also protects the utensils and the food in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-oTdSY1Yrs

The process of ‘Kalai’ involves washing first the copper utensil with caustic soda to get rid of any surface impurities such as dust. The next step is washing it with an acid that contains the gold purifying compound ‘Sufa’, a salt and another element. It is then immediately wiped clean otherwise it might bear a mark. The Kalaiwalas dug a pit in the ground and prepared a temporary blast furnace, airing it with bellows. They then heated the utensil, blasting it off and on and sprinkled a miraculous component ‘Nausadar‘. The powder is rubbed onto the utensil with a cotton cloth, which gives out deep white smoke and a peculiar ammoniac smell. ‘Nausadar’ powder or ammonium chloride .The final step of kalai is to dip the utensil into a bucket full of cold water. A silvery lining appears on the vessel with a shine.

In the villages we did not hear voices of 'Kalaiwallas'.The Kalaiwalas would visit a village for a day or so, every six to eight months.

Now with the use of stainless steel or aluminum and non-stick kitchenwares this age-old craft is obsolete de voiding the modern generation of the magic happening and listening to sweet song of Kaaliwallas.


Once I happened to be in Dharamgarh when I heard an announcement from the Loudspeaker of the only Gurudwara in the village saying that Kalaiwalas were there in the village for a day or so, one and all are requested to bring their utensils in the Gurudwara 'Serai' (Caravansry),if they wanted to get their utensils tin coated. From each household some or the other woman(Since the men folk go to the fields for work early morning) would come out rushing with their copper or brass utensils for re-tinning process and deposited with the kalaiwalas.This duo was so efficient that they would ask the person to just wait and take small utensils like spoon,kadchhi,kauli,thali,glass etc.as they might be needing the same immediately. Heavy utensils like Patila ,Kadhahi,Gagar,degh,lota.jug etc. they would keep aside for delivery after needful later on.The process continued throughout the day.They made it a point to deliver the smaller items at owners door step as and when the same were ready for delivery.

In the morning, the serai was empty and 'kalaiwalas' were no where to be seen.The'Thugs'(Fake Kalaiwalas had decamped with heavy utensils including that of Gurudwara langar utensils after mid night.

And the entire village was surprised at what happened. It was a wonderful magic performance by fake Kalai Walas!

The entire village was experiencing a whirlwind of emotions some felt devastated one moment and angry the next. A broken heart led to feelings of shame, doubt, confusion, and anxiety but I was amused at the magical talent of the duo!

  

Tejinder Kamboj


                (1940-20??)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday Special--God's Cow!

Image
When I was a child,I was fascinated by  a few insects,like Butterflies,Jugnu (Glow worm-or firefly), Lady bug,and Beer bahuti(Brother's Bride-In Punjabi).The former two were out of reach of kids, Ladybirds and Beer Bahuti have long been of interest to children, as such I could play with the later Two. Now I learnt that both my favorites are somehow related to the cow! Surprised? I share my research  with you, as follows :- ladybugs/ lady birds called "God's cows" in some languages (such as Russian, French, Hebrew, etc.) The creature beloved in many countries. In Russian, we call it “God’s cow”. Yep, something like this. Ladybugs smell with their feet and antennae. The farmers began to call the Ladybugs “the Beetles of Our Lady” and eventually they were known as Lady Beetles. The Ladybug's red wings are said to represent the Virgin's cloak and the black spots her joys and sorrows. The Ladybug is widely...
Read more

Sunday Special-Surkhaab ke Par!

Image
Surkhab ke Pankh! Nihayaeti tanz hai –Hindi Muhavara , " Surkhaab ke par lage hona . " Yeh aam taur par kisi aise shakhs ke liye jo apne  aap ko kuch – Khansahab Turram Khan,Fanneh Khan ,Nadhu Khan ki tarah – ziadah samajh raha ho ya apne ohdey se uncha ya alag salook ki umeed kar raha ho. Rahul Gandhihi ke' kaun se Surkhab ke par lage Hai.n' jo Congress Party uss ko Prime Minister of India banana chahti hai?  . what has he done to be a PM? except to be born at the right place at the right time, no earned credentials at all and even not ‘Having a Golden A ss’   implying that this guy having tremendous attitude, exhibiting style and mannerism very different from ordinary persons. 'सुरख़ाब का पर लगना' मतलब - अनोखापन होना; श्रेष्ठतासूचक; विशेषता होना; विलक्षणता होना। Surkhab Persian سرخاب Red river Persian Ruddy shelduck Surkhaab--(Surkh---aab) In Persian Surkh means Red . Aab means Paani We often hear  and use some idioms wi...
Read more

Quote of the Week!

Image
 Quote of the Week! "Technology, especially 'cell' phone that lives up to its name by making you its prisoners, has brought the things to such a pass that it has surpassed  human' interaction' and the 'Natural' instinct of 'Movement'(Physical activity) in humans ,leading to besides health Issues like Text-neck, poor sleep, Tendinitis,  eye sight problems has ushered in a generation of Idiots as life comes to stand still without Wi-Fi!" A generation of Idiots! - -Tejinder Kamboj ​       (1940-20??) Foot Note: I'm 1940 born. Now cell phone has replaced almost everything. In my generation glasses were not required up to the age of forty. New generation can now enjoy this luxury even at the age of 6.Our alarm clock, used to be our mother with water filled bucket in hand, Weather cock also was mother who decided what to wear. Teacher used to make us learn the 'Tables' by heart to enable us to make calculations off hand that...
Read more