A chapter of ancient iron smelting tradition has been closed with the death of Nagu Birjia- member of a primitive tribe Asur of Jharkhand. Not only the Asurs but non tribal people also believe that his death as a huge loss in the indigenous iron smelting tradition and now this tradition is on the verge of extinction.
Hails from a Primitive Tribe— Birjia (Asur), Nagu was a resident of Hadup village in the pat area of Netarhat plateau under Bisunpur block of Gumla district.
Nagu was the prominent Iron smelter of his time. His death given a huge blow in iron smelting tradition, said Bifaiya Birjia (65) who still practicing indigenous way of iron smelting in the pat area of Netarhat.
“Most of us who were well known about the iron smelting died and now very few of us are aware with this tradition includes Rambriksh Birjia (66), Sudharam Birjia (48), Sohrai Birjia (56), Themu Birjia (52), Fagua, Sukhram and others”, added Bifaiya.
Though their knowledge is not documented and they verbally used to pass out the knowledge to the next generations.
Studying under Jharkhand Media Fellowship-2012 found that Asur’s Iron smelting technology would be evaporated soon if necessary steps have not been taken earliest.
Notably, Asurs a primitive tribes of Jharkhand were the ones who first made iron in the world. They traditionally been iron-smelters but iron-smelting has now practically become a thing of the past; their tradition is now almost lost in competition to the modern technology.
Since after the implementation of government’s forest conservation policy and introduction of latest metallurgy techniques, gave a final death blow to the industry of iron smelting by the Asurs. uNow Asur depends upon shifting cultivation, hunting, and collection of food, fishing, and rearing of animals. Very few of the Asurs who are well known about the indigenous iron smelting are surviving.
Now its’ too urgent that government should take every possible steps to conserve the Asur’s ancient iron smelting tradition or knowledge which can be open a new panorama in their development.
This tradition is much safer, cheaper and eco-friendly, study found.
Deeply studying about their technology it’s found that these tribes are using those ores on the crust of above the earth surface which are neglected for smelting by the modern steel mills. Modern mills rated it as low grade and considered it useless for smelting.
While on the other hand in the present ecological conditions, the traditional technology can play a vital role by saving the environment and making it pollution free.
The charcoal used for smelting as a source of energy is proved to be a far less pollutant (because of its low sulphur content) in comparison to the fuels used by the modern steel mills.
The furnaces used by Asurs are small and do not cause damage to the atmosphere. Thus study found that the ore and fuel used by Asurs are not affecting the environment.
(This article is written under Jharkhand Media Fellowship-2012)