BHID BHITRA KA ANUHAR || THE LAST SHOEMAKERS OF DARJEELING.

In a narrow, dimly lit alley of Darjeeling, tucked away from the bustling streets, an old shoemaker hunches over his worn-out workbench. His calloused hands stitch leather with precision, his tired eyes focused on the craft he has practiced for decades. He is one of the last two shoemakers in Darjeeling, struggling to keep alive a dying tradition in an age where handcrafted shoes have lost their value.
Once, bespoke shoes were a mark of pride, skill, and craftsmanship. Generations of shoemakers thrived, their workshops filled with the rich scent of leather and the rhythmic sounds of hammers on soles. But times have changed. Factory-made shoes, mass-produced and sold cheaply, have flooded the market, leaving little demand for handcrafted footwear. Customers who once admired the durability and artistry of handmade shoes now opt for inexpensive, machine-made alternatives.
For the old shoemaker, business is scarce. Days pass without a single customer, and making ends meet has become an uphill battle. The profession that once sustained his forefathers is no longer profitable. His tools, passed down through generations, gather dust as the art of shoemaking fades into obscurity.
With the passing of these last artisans, Darjeeling loses more than just shoemakers-it loses a legacy, a piece of its history, a tradition woven into its very fabric. As modernity marches on, the echoes of this once-thriving craft grow fainter, leaving behind only memories of a lost art.
दार्जिलिङको एक साँघुरो, अँध्यारो गल्लीमा, हल्लबल्ल भरिएका सडकहरूबाट टाढा, एउटा बूढो जुत्ता बनाउने कारीगर आफ्नो पुरानो काम गर्ने टेबलमा झुकेको छ। उनको कठोर हातले चमडा सिउन कार्यमा निपुणताका साथ लागेका छन्, उनका थाकेका आँखाहरू दशकौंदेखि अभ्यास गरिरहेको शिल्पमा केन्द्रित छन्। उनी दार्जिलिङका अन्तिम दुई जुत्ता बनाउने कारीगर मध्ये एक हुन्, जो हस्तनिर्मित जुत्ताहरूको मूल्य घटेको यस युगमा एक लोप हुँदै गएको परम्परालाई जिउँदो राख्न संघर्षरत छन्।
एक समयमा, आर्डरमा बनेका जुत्ताहरू गर्व, सिप र कारीगरीको प्रतीक हुन्थे। जुत्ता बनाउने कारीगरहरूको पुस्ताहरू फलिफाप भएका थिए, उनीहरूका कार्यशालाहरू चमडाको सुगन्ध र तल्लाहरूमा हथौडाको लयबद्ध आवाजले भरिएका हुन्थे। तर समय परिवर्तन भयो। कारखानामा बनेका, धेरै मात्रामा उत्पादन गरिएका र सस्तोमा बिक्री हुने जुत्ताहरूले बजारलाई पूरै घेरिएको छ, जसले हस्तनिर्मित जुत्ताहरूको मागलाई न्यून बनाएको छ। एक समय हस्तनिर्मित जुत्ताहरूको टिकाउपन र कलाको प्रशंसा गर्ने ग्राहकहरूले अब सस्तो, मेशिनमा बनेका विकल्पहरू छनौट गर्छन्।
बूढो जुत्ता बनाउने कारीगरको लागि व्यवसाय दुर्लभ छ। एकजना ग्राहक पनि नआएका दिनहरू बित्छन्, र जीवन यापन गर्न कठिन भइसकेको छ। उनका पुर्खाहरूलाई पाल्ने पेशा अब लाभदायक रहेनछ। उनका उपकरणहरू, जुन पुस्तादेखि पुस्तामा हस्तान्तरण गरिएको छ, धुलो जमेका छन् किनभने जुत्ता बनाउने कलाको अस्तित्व लोप हुँदै गएको छ।
यी अन्तिम कारीगरहरूको अवसानसँगै, दार्जिलिङले केवल जुत्ता बनाउने कारीगरहरूलाई मात्र होइन, एक विरासत, उसको इतिहासको एक टुक्रा, यसको बुनोटमा गुथिएको एक परम्परालाई गुमाउँछ। आधुनिकताको प्रगतिसँगै, एक समय फलिफाप भएको यो शिल्पको गूँज धेरै कमजोर हुँदै गएको छ, जसले गुमेको कलाका सम्झनाहरू मात्र छोडेको छ।
#darjeeling #handmade
#handmadeshoes
#handicrafts
#shoes
#shoemaking
#shoemaker
#handcrafted
#handcraftedshoes
#dying
#leathercraft
#traditional
#darjeelinghill
#leathershoes
#cowbazaar
#craft
#leathershoes
#darjeelingdiaries

[@ashisrai07]

राम्रो भए छ साथी। keep it up #ashisrai

[@pravatchisorai]

Thanks bro

[@shiladewanofficial5846]

सही कुरा ✌️

[@Khalingsusen]

दामी साथी ❤❤

[@pravatchisorai]

धन्यवाद मित्र।

[@hell_isok]

Nice.

[@pravatchisorai]

Thanks bro

[@tsheringbhutia6402]

Very nice content...keep it up👍👍

[@pravatchisorai]

Thank you

[@Nepali-BengaliSpeakingLady]

Such a nice vlogs . Keep it up 👍

[@pravatchisorai]

Thank you so much...appreciate it

[@JesuSumiKalyan.]

Dami👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@pravatchisorai]

Thank you

[@shiladewanofficial5846]

सिक्नु गाह्रो पर्छ आजकलको नानीहरुले सिक्ने पनि होईन

[@pradeepgurung-vv6vp]

.We are very lucky to have two such Shoe- Makers in Darjeeling.Though the cost may be more BUT you will feel the difference comparison to the Ready made shoes in the market after wearing them. Darjeeling was once famous for the shoes made by the Chinese Community in the 1950,60,70,80 .Now we have just two such Shoe- makes and that to local.🙏🙏🙏SUPPORT THEM indirectly by buying custom-built shoes.They are our Talent and Treasure of Darjeeling.There mighty be such talents in Kharsang and Kalaybung.

[@anjanipradhan6350]

School days yaad ayo...mero baba lay yah shoes order gardinu hunthiyo..

[@ChandanRai-p6h]

❤ awesome video bro tq... Can u send me location plz .. tq and explore our pride ❤

[@pravatchisorai]

Thank you...it is in Chowk bazar, 'C' building, second alley.

[@ChandanRai-p6h]

@pravatchisorai tq

[@habilsubba3574]

it would have been better if order , price and type of shoes revealed.

[@pravatchisorai]

Thank you .... actually the essence of the vlog was to capture the dying moments of a legacy, art and of a tradition.

[@TheGrandfather365]

But you need to wash your feet and wear clean socks before visiting the place to place your order. They will take your foot size on paper.😅