At a time when Bhopal stands at the cusp of welcoming delegates for the Global Investors Summit, we retrace the city's industrial journey, one that began with cottage and small-scale industries, laying the foundation for the thriving industrial hub it is today.
Primarily a rainfed agrarian economy during most of its princely past, Bhopal’s industrial roots took hold through the craftsmanship of its people. In those formative years, skilled artisans—both men and women—established small, skill-based units that served as the cornerstone for the city’s industrial growth in the decades to come.
The production of lac, carpentry, metalworks producing betel nut clippers (locally referred to as Siroutis) and knives, and wooden and horn haircomb making were some of the first small-scale works that the people of the region indulged in, apart from embroidery and sequin work.
The lac industry grew due to the large number of lac trees in the region. The tree housed a tiny red-colored insect, which was used to produce the much sought-after resin that was used by various industries at the time.
The produce was used in larger manufacturing industries to produce varnishes, dyes, and wax sealants. Jewellery makers too used it to reinforce and strengthen the handcrafted ornaments they created for royalty and noblemen of the day.
Bhopal had a large population of lac trees, which the city harvested twice every year. Buoyed by the presence of the abundant raw material in their own backyard, members of the ruling clan too tried their hand at manufacturing.
Nawabzada Obaidullah Khan, one of the three sons of the last female ruler, Nawab Sultan Jahan Begum, established a sealing wax manufacturing unit at the Old Boys' Club in the Ginnori area of the city.
The profitable factory, managed by an unnamed Bengali gentleman, was closed down after Khan's widow, Shahryar Dulhan, entrusted the management of the factory to her brother, Sardar Mahfooz Ali Khan.
The incident was recorded by Professor Syed Ashfaq Ali in his book The Economic Development of Bhopal. A noted educationist and a city historian of repute, Ali served as the principal of the city-based Saifia College from 1960 to 1978.
Ali further describes Icchawar, on the outskirts of the city, as a well-regarded centre for lacquer work. Back in the day, lacquer workshops in the area saw entire families, including children, working together to create products that gained fame across the entire region.
The erstwhile rulers were aficionados of good teak and Sheesham furniture. The designs, a mix of their unique cultural identity and a heavy British influence, came to be highly regarded by the rich and famous.
Back in 1956, the city had over a dozen wooden furniture shops employing nearly a hundred craftsmen.
Carpentry was taught as a skill at the local orphanage. The craftsmen earned repute with the creation of the Bhopali Masehri (akin to the western four-poster bed), Singar Mez (dressing tables), and Corner and Centre Stands that were later adorned with mirrors at the back.
Another profitable occupation for the people of the time was crafting haircombs out of wood and horns. This small-scale craft was based in the Diwanganj and Nasrullahganj areas on the outskirts of the city.
Metalworks were also popular, with blacksmiths fashioning knives, Siroutis, and other household items at Begumganj and Udaipura.
