Asurs and their ancient iron smelter, threatened with extinction, can get global recognition with reviving their traditional iron smelting technique.
The iron smelted by Asurs has anti-rust property and the processes are much safer, cheaper and eco-friendly. With sturdy initiative and by reviving their traditional or ancient technique Asura’s can get global recognition.
Making decorative pieces, statues, show pieces, wall hangings, ancient tools (table tools), emblems, trophies, shields including others form those irons and by selling it in the international market can give a strong boost in socio-economic condition of the Asurs.
Studying under Jharkhand Media Fellowship-2012 found that their traditional iron smelting can be revived with some modifications in production technique. After little modification production might be increased by 20 kgs on the same effort, same quantity of ore and charcoal used by the tribe, study reveals.
Several old iron monuments like pillars at Delhi and Dhar, iron beam at Konark, Damascus sword including others are few examples of their metallurgical skills which are having anti-rust properties.
Notably, Asur were the ones who first made iron in the world. They are traditionally iron-smelters but iron-smelting has now practically become a thing of the past. Introduction of modern iron technology and implementation of government’s forest conservation policy has given a huge blow to their traditions which is on the verge to extinct.
Asur prepared charcoal from the dead ‘sal’ wood found on the banks of rivers or tanks and used it to smelt iron ore for preparation of iron-tools. Three different varieties of iron ore are recognized by them are Magnetite is the first one which they termed as POlA, the second one is Haematite known as BICHI and third one is laterite termed as GOTA, said Chamru.
By observation and experience Asurs were able to locate a site for the ores.
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.
Now very few of the Asurs’ who are well known about the indigenous iron smelting are surviving, said Chamru Asur residing at Sakhuapani in the pat area of Netarhat plateau.
“Most of us who knew about 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”, he said.
Their knowledge of iron smelting is not yet documented and they verbally used to pass out the knowledge to the next generations.
Study found that government should take every possible step, as earliest as possible to preserve the Asurs old iron smelting tradition or knowledge which can be opens a new panorama in their development. This article has been written under Jharkhand Media Fellowship-2012