Book Description

Metals and their knowledge have have been important in historic as well as pre-historic ages. Many of the pre-historic artefacts are still a wonder to the modern man. When we visit places like Ajanta, Ellora caves, Konark Temple at Bhubaneshwar, Taj Mahal at Agra, Qutb Minar and Ashoka Pillar at Delhi, we look with awe the craftsmanship of the sculptors and metal workers. A strong culture of technology is necessary for creation of such masterpieces.The monuments made of stones needed a few basic metal implements: chisels and hammers. How did these originate? Before the making of basic metal tools, stone based tools were only available which were heavy and got blunted easily and could not be used for agriculture. Metal tools are harder, last longer and are re-workable. Thus it is said that with the proliferation of metal usage, agriculture and stock-raising expanded many times. Also the villages prospered and towns came into being.Copper was the first metal man had contact with. The first copper used was native copper. Copper metallurgy in India dates back to the start of the Chalcolithic culture in the sub-continent. The Harappans extensively used Copper and Bronze to make knives, daggers, arrowheads, axes, chisel, bangles, bracelets and beads.The source of metal is the next point to think of. Was the metal obtained in a native state or extracted from ore? Also the usage of flux then to remove gangue as slag needs pondering. The shape and capacity of the furnace used is also important. Whether the metal was used as it is or alloyed with some other metal, is another query? The process of solidification by casting or the object formation by forge-welding/forging is another question. Such questions need to be answered to know about the scientific basis and technical skills of the Copper smelters and smiths in ancient times.But there are no direct answers. Answers are hidden under artefacts, furnaces, slags and other archaeological evidences. World over we find a well-marked sequence of usage of metals: copper-arsenical, copper-tin, bronze, iron, occurs which may suggest a diffusion process. However, we do not get the full sequence and in some parts we go from Neolithic technology to an Early Iron Age civilization. For a long time, the theory of the diffusion of ideas and techniques has been generally. But now, the long held general diffusional thesis for spread of metallurgy has come under cloud. The second metal iron was used in India after Copper and Bronze, as in other parts of the world and in India it was made indigenously. One may recall mastery in metal casting from the Indus times with the shining example of the dancing girl, cast in Bronze by cire purdue process. Subsequently, heavy tools and implements have been found in the copper hoards in the gangetic plains during 2000-1500 BCE. The modern day Zinc was already being produced in India in 12th to 13th centuries in the Zawar region of Rajasthan. The Ashoka Pillar at Mehraulli created in the 4th-5th century CE is a wonder having withstood 1600 monsoons which testifies its extraordinary qualitative feature. Wootz known worldwide as the famous Damascus steel was another product from master craftsmen of India many centuries years ago. The medieval period saw the emphasis on producing war implements and the Shahi Karkhanas came up and master craftsmen from West Asia came to make large iron cannons which started replacing bronze cannons.The remarkable skills of the Indian Metallurgists did get lost to the world during British rule possibly due to the 1857 mutiny after which making of firearms including the famous swords was halted. Mines were closed and even the miners were extinct. The arrival of the British saw the synergy of indigenous Indian metallurgy and western technology. Later came up the Indian Iron and Steel company and Tata Iron and Steel companies.This book is an introduction to the history of metallurgy in India since Ancient times.