Rampur: No Indian, and especially no true movie buff can forget the 'Rampuri chaku'. The go-to weapon for villains in the '60s and 70's Bollywood movies, conveyed fear and style in equal measures. Rampuri knife was known not only in the country but also abroad. Named after the town of Rampur, the Rampuri knife is losing its sheen. The knife was popularised by its use in the yesteryear movies as the weapon of choice by the negative characters portrayed by famous actors like Pran, Jeevan, Ranjeet.
The sound of the knife clicking open sends the audience into a flurry. But the business has slowly died down. People associated with this business are today forced to run rickshaws or work as labourers to eke out their living. Many governments have changed, but no one paid attention to this business. Most of the people associated with this business have changed their occupation and many are on the brink of starvation.
Rampuri knife had recognition globally
Rampur knife was known and recognized not only in India but also abroad. The knife had no parallels. During the rule of princes, there were many knife making factories and many artisans engaged in them. Over the years, the government made very strict laws regulating the possession of knives. This made people disassociate with the business of making and selling knives.
The knife was made by breaking sword
ETV Bharat talked to Fazal Shah, General Secretary of the Knife Manufacturers Association about the history of Rampuri knife. He said the Rampuri knife’s history is very old. During the time of Rampur State, the knife was made by breaking a sword. The knife thus made became famous all over the world. He said even today, Rampur is known for its knife.
Fazal Shah said that on 17th March 1967, the UP government applied Section 25 on knives larger than 10 centimetres in some of its municipal areas which adversely affected the traders. He said that he was the General Secretary of the Knife Manufacturers and Dealers Association at the time. He said those who became unemployed due to this law, started driving rickshaws and doing some zardozi work.
Fazal Shah says that there was another problem in the licenses that were issued. The license permitted the sale of only 400 knives in a year.
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Talking to ETV Bharat, businessman Sandeep Aggarwal said there was a knife market in Shadab where knives made in different areas of Rampur district were kept for sale. A large number of people were engaged here and there was a huge knife market near Shadab Market in Rampur.
Sandeep Aggarwal said the Ministry of Industry and the Department of Industries did not take any initiative to revive the knife market. He said the district officer has taken an initiative that every guest who comes to Rampur is presented with a knife in a photo frame as a gift.
Forced to run a rickshaw
Khushnood Mian told ETV Bharat that he has turned 90 doing the knife work. He said the Nayab knife inside the Kothi Khas garden was made by him. Khushnood Mian said that the situation is so bad that people do not have a business in their hands and are forced to run rickshaw. He said knife traders have changed their business, some are selling utensils while others are selling ready-made garments.
