The Dying Thathera Craft of Jandiala Guru, Amritsar

The dying art of making copper and brass utensils by the Thatheras at Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, Panjab, is the first Indian traditional art to be listed under UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). Despite its exclusive listing in December 2015, this Thathera art continues to face extinction. At one time there were 500 Thatheras in Jandiala Guru. Today 30 remain. UNITED SIKHS in association with Enactus, Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University, has started a project to help revive this dying art. The history of the Thatheras can be traced back to over 200 years, when the craftsmen colony was established during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who encouraged skilled metal workers, to settle in his kingdom. Jandiala Guru became a bustling mandi for brass and copper utensils. To date, Jandiala Guru remains a crafts village. This film shows why this art is dying and raises questions about its future.