Roadside artisan keeps a ‘cane-do’ attitude
The commuters driving through the road leading from Lasbela Chowrangi to Zoological Garden would see a middle aged artisan busy in making swing chairs out of bamboo cane and reed bark, on the pavement to the left.
Oblivious to the noise and smoke produced by the vehicles passing by, Abdul Rauf, has been making and selling the handmade pieces of cane furniture on the same footpath for the last 35 years.
There has never been an instance that Rauf’s handicrafts fail to catch the attention of those who pass by this small road-side workshop. The people always stop by, appreciate Rauf’s work and ask their price, at least, if not actually buy them.
Faith in hard work
55-years-old Rauf had been the bread winner for his wife and six sons till three of his sons got married and engaged in their lives with their families.
However, one would wonder that why for a man having six adult sons, laboring to earn was even an option.
Sticking to his habit to be grateful in all circumstances, Rauf replies to this question too, showing gratitude towards the Almighty.
“Praise be to Allah that working hard to earn is a pleasure that nothing else could bring,” said Rauf.
He believes that there is no way out in these times of inflation without working hard in order to make the ends meet and only keeping himself active would keep him going.
Though, he tells that his sons do help him in his work when they get free from their jobs.
According to Rauf, he inherited the skill to make cane furniture from his father and ancestors.
“My father and grandfather made a living by doing the same work in India before the partition of the sub-continent,” said Rauf.
He says that the cane goods industry used to be the most popular one back then since the bamboo and reed are abundant in India.
Whereas in Pakistan, the raw cane has to be imported for making goods out of it, he adds.
All about cane goods production
Rauf acknowledged that the cost of cane furniture making has increased with the price of raw material that it requires with time.
Rauf tells that cane furniture making requires a great effort and labour and with the increase in its cost and invasion of imported furniture, especially the ones made of plastic, most of the artisans gave up this work and didn’t pass on the skill to anyone.
There are a few cane furniture artisans left in Karachi which can be counted on fingertips, he said.
He apprises that the cost of raw material used in the manufacture of cane furniture ranges from Rs1,000-Rs3,000 per kg. Apart from this, he adds that the trade of raw materials is monopolized by certain importers and traders which has made the raw material is expensive and not readily available in the required quantity, causing the prices of cane products keep fluctuating.
According to Rauf, the preparation of one swing chair takes at least two days to complete.
The furniture made of cane is as durable as the other wooden furniture or even more, claims Rauf, adding that this can be easily repaired and renewed with a single coat of polish.
An environment-friendly deal
Rauf starts working early in the morning and continue till the dusk, completely relying on the sunlight. Since he doesn’t use any powered or electrical equipment for the manufacture of his goods, Rauf’s job can be called entirely ‘environment friendly’.
Rauf says that the increasing awareness on the conservation of environment has triggered the demand of cane furniture.
He wishes that may the art of cane furniture making flourishes and lives forever by passing on through generations therefore he wants people to promote it on the level of art institutions.
He also looks forward on saving enough amount of money which can afford him a proper shop workshop where he can teach the skill to others as well as earn better.
This story is part of a weekly series that seeks to bring to light the unsung heroes of Karachi - the hawkers, traders, doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers and daily-wage labourers. It is they who make Karachi the city of lights.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2021.