BY Ramesh Danekhu
Once the source of income of about 200 families, Bhadgaule topi manufacturing is now limited to day pass of less than two digit number of old men in Bhaktapur.
Time-worn Krishna Mohan Rajbhandari, 65 said," The business is no more like in old days. Only six or seven families are dragging it anyhow." Giving angle to the clothes used for making Bhadgaule topi with scissors, he added," It's become time-pass for me these days." Birendra, 33, the younger son of Rajbhandari helps his father with no interest. According to him, making topi is tough job that needs huge manual effort and patience. "But, the marketers pay much less to the effort employed." he complained.
The very same is the view of Chandra Bagat Kasti, 65. He opined," All the rest have left the profession for less financial outcomes." Started the work in the age of 12, he is supported in his work by his wife after households, and his sons have been aside with their own other professions.
"Agents take up to cent percent commission for taking the finished products to the market", said a tailor involve in this work for more than three decades, in the promise of anonymity. The retailers sell for Rs.120 to 150 depending upon labor per piece while, according to him, he is paid only Rs.40 to 60.
Though the initial investment is not too high, making Bhadgaule topi compiles long chain of 12 consequent processes viz. gluing, sunning, framing, stitching, smoking, combing and so on. "It is the conjugation of skill and dedication." Kedar Shrestha, 50 said who learnt this from his mother a very long ago.
Manufacturing Bhadgaule topi was once started in Birgung too. But sooner it collapsed. Today, only Bal Krishna Shrestha produces Bhadgaule topi in a larger scale in Bhaktapur. His output per month is about 30 Kuris (one Kuri is equal to 20 pieces) through seven tailors he has employed for.
The crown of politicians, officers, militaries and common Nepalese in national apparel, Bhadgaule topi, is now passing through its hard days. All those involved in making the topis agree in the point that till the day no initiation has been made to institutionalize and expand the work by any organization or governmental approach. The continuation of the trend may lead to the extinction of Bhadgaule topi by the time the old-makers sum up their lives. One must think on it once.