News: The police administration in Barpeta district has been extending its helping hands to the poor and needy since the lockdown began. They have given both cooked food and raw materials to poor people living in different parts of the district.

The Sarthebari Bell-Metal Industry of Assam:

• Sarthebari is home to the bell metal industry, the second largest handicraft of Assam, after bamboo craft. Bellmetal is an alloy of copper and tin and the craftsmen of this industry are referred to as ‘Kahar’ or ‘Orja’.
• The objects made are mostly used in domestic and religious purposes. The tradition is believed to have started ages back and the craftsmen still prepare the objects manually adhering to the age old technique by implementing the old tools required for burning and shaping the metal. Historically, this craft form dates back to the 7th century AD.
• Various written records reveal that the bell metal industry of Assam existed from the time of Kumarbhaskarvarman, the king of the Varman Dynasty, when, the Kumar of eastern India gifted drinking vessels to Harshavardhana of Kannauj.
• The existence of the skilled bell-metal masters can also be traced through the scriptures, where its written that a pair of ‘Bhortal’ or cymbal, a musical instrument was gifted to Hieuen Tsang, an eminent Chinese scholar during his visit to India and Kamrup.
• However, scholars believe that it was only during the period of Ahoms that the industry got highlighted, as special interest was taken by various Ahom kings among whom Swargadeo Siva Singha was the most notable.