A blacksmith forges life out of metals and hope

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi, May 13: Near the Kali Gandaki bridge in Beni, nestled beside the roadside, stands a modest tin-roofed shed. From early morning, the rhythmic tuk-tuk of hammer on metal rings out from this humble workshop. It belongs to Buddhi Bahadur B.K., a resident of Tatopani in Beni Municipality Ward No. 4, who now runs a traditional blacksmith business along the roadside in Parbat Beni.

As soon as dawn breaks, B.K. lights the fire in his forge and begins crafting copper utensils. For the past 25 years, this has been his daily routine, his life. 

Refining a family trade passed down through generations, B.K. has not only preserved a traditional craft but also turned it into a profitable enterprise. “When I was young, I used to sit beside my father as he worked at the forge. The skills I learned then have given my family happiness and a bright future,” he said. “When you have skills in your hands, you don’t need to go anywhere. It’s possible to do something right here in our own country.” From this very profession, he has managed both the household expenses and his children’s education.

B.K. earns a handsome monthly income, selling handmade metal goods worth between Rs. 200,000 to 300,000. 

“My father was a blacksmith all his life,” he recalled. “I learned the trade sitting beside him as a child. He showed me the path, and I followed it to support my own family.”

B.K. rented the roadside plot for Rs. 30,000 a year and built the temporary shed himself. He has invested over 1 million rupees into the forge, which produces a variety of copper, brass, and iron goods, including household utensils and farming tools.

“If you can make good products, selling them is never a problem,” he said. “I haven’t been able to meet the demand.” His products consistently yield between Rs. 200,000 and 300,000 each month.

His wife, Dilkumari B.K., is also well-trained in the craft. “I learned these skills from a young age,” she said. “After we got married, I began working beside him and picked up the techniques. I can now make small utensils myself. Both of us enjoy working at the forge, and this profession has brought happiness and a sense of fulfilment to our lives.”

The couple produces a range of items including copper vessels, pans, sickles, khukuris, hoes, and spades. A single copper vessel sells for between Rs. 10,000 and 15,000 and can be completed in a single day.

From the income earned at the forge, B.K. has supported his four sons. One is currently working in Saudi Arabia, another is employed locally as a driver, the third recently sat for his Secondary Education Examination, and the youngest is a seven year old student at a private school in Beni.

“In the past, when my father ran the forge in our village, he used to make tools like khukuris and hoes, and the villagers would pay in grain. That was enough to feed us,” he recalled. “But I moved into the market and turned the inherited craft into a business. It’s from this trade that I raised and educated my sons.”

Thanks to the forge’s roadside location, tourists returning from Myagdi and Mustang often stop to purchase hand-made goods. “We struggle to meet the demand,” he admitted. “It’s hard to find people willing to do this work. The younger generation is embarrassed to do it. So, it’s just the two of us doing all we can.”