The Fortress of artisans no longer houses artisans

By Gokarna Dayal

Baitadi, Mar. 23: Once known as the stronghold of artisans, the village of Babet in Baitadi’s district headquarters now has only one remaining craftsman, 85-year-old Antaram Oad, who can still construct traditional intricately carved wooden houses. No younger generation has followed in his footsteps. Dozens of traditional skills used in crafting indigenous homes, ancient temples and palaces have not been passed down and are now on the verge of extinction.

In the past, the demand for skilled craftsmen from Baitadi extended to Dadeldhura, Doti and Bajura districts. However, with the increasing use of concrete in homes and temples, the younger generation has abandoned this ancestral profession, says 85-year-old craftsman Antaram Oad.

He explained that although Baitadi’s renowned temples and ancient palaces were built by artisans from the Oad family and the Bishwakarma community, modern construction projects rarely incorporate these traditional skills. He asserted that the ancestral home of martyr Dasharath Chand along with notable individuals such as former Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, were crafted by Baitadi’s artisans using traditional materials like Sarki.  (treated leather) and Masko plaster (a mix of lentil paste and mud).

Despite intricately carved wooden houses being an iconic representation of the Sudurpaschim region’s heritage, their construction has ceased, lamented Wod. He also expressed concern over the disappearance of craftsmanship required for creating temple doors and black ironwork. Likewise, other traditional skills such as blacksmithing, wooden cask-making, weaving of bamboo baskets, drum-making and playing folk instruments like the Hudko (a small hand drum) and Masakbin (a traditional Nepali bagpipe) are also fading away.

The art of singing Heroic ballads while playing the Hudko is also on the verge of extinction. Seventy-year-old folk artist Manohar Pariyar says that only a handful of people remain who can still sing the Heroic ballads in its entirety.

He further noted that the late Jhushe Damai, a legendary Heroic ballad singer from Baitadi, is still widely discussed in Pithoragarh, India. However, he regrets that his contributions have gone largely unrecognised in his home district and province. While more than 52 scholars in India have completed PhD research on Jhushe Damai, he has received little attention in Nepal. In response to such concerns, the Sudurpashchim provincial government has allocated Rs. one million to establish the Jhuse Damai Foundation, confirmed former Chief Minister Rajendra Singh Rawal.

He stated, “Despite Sudurpashchim being a province rich in art, culture and craftsmanship, the artisan community has historically faced systemic discrimination. It is essential that the state actively works to preserve and promote our traditional skills and heritage.”

With this goal in mind, the Foundation has been established to facilitate research and documentation on the legacy of Jhushe Damai.

A New Artisan Found in Pancheshwar

A young man who has mastered traditional woodcarving, temple ornamentation and ironwork has been discovered in Pancheshwar. Dharmaram Bad, 34, of Hariyagad, Pancheshwar Rural Municipality-4, has successfully carved a niche for himself by reviving indigenous craftsmanship.

He has earned both financial success and social recognition by restoring dozens of temples, shrines and traditionally designed houses. Dharmaram believes that if local governments initiate skill-development training programmes, the younger generation can still be inspired to embrace these ancestral crafts.