Imphal, May 24 2009: Contrary to the present phenomenon of branded products making inroads in every sphere of the society, a particular variety of hand-made aluminium utensils made in the State has successfully withstood the onslaught of machine made sleek and cheap utensils.

These utensils, popularly known as Mizo Cooker and Moscow, are utensils used for cooking rice and dishes in a traditional Manipuri kitchen.

These utensils are made of aluminium with artistic motifs and designs by hand without using any form of machine.

Since the last few years, Mizo Cooker and Moscow are fast gaining popularity among housewives.

Not only in Manipur, these utensils are also in great demand in the neighbouring States.

Recently, the popularity of these utensils has risen to such a level that many branded products of their type manufactured by established companies have been disappearing from the local markets.

The proud manufacturers of these utensils are Chongtham Nandakumar s/o Ch Tomba of Ningombam Awang Leikai and his wife Ibetombi.

They are being assisted by nine silversmiths and six helpers.

Talking to The Sangai Express today, 41 year old Ch Nandakumar, proprietor of KK Foundry , said that he has been in aluminium works for the last 15 years.

He said that his father Tomba was one of the pioneers in the same field.

Even though he was least interested in his father' vocation during childhood, Nandakumar compelled by the need to earn his own livelihood as his father was getting old, Nandakumar learnt the art of making aluminium utensils from one Lokendro of Langthabal.

After learning from Lokendro for about 2 years and a half, Nandakumar and his wife, Ibetombi started manufacturing aluminium utensils in their home.

On one occasion, when he went to Khwairamband Keithel to market his hand-made aluminium utensils, he came across the utensils known as Mizo Cooker and Moscow.

Impressed with the shape and qualities of these utensils, Nandakumar started manufacturing similar utensils with certain modifications in its design.

Soon Nandakumar's hand-made Mizo Cooker and Moscow gained more popularity over those brought from elsewhere, he claimed.

Soon after, he manufacturing capacity fell short of meet public demand.

Subsequently, Nandakumar gathered 15 educated unemployed youths of the locality and taught them the art of making these utensils.

Since then, he has manufacturing Mizo cooker and Moscow to meet public demand.

Nandakumar and his team are now able to earn around Rs 4 lakhs in a month on the average from this trade of manufacturing Mizo Cookers and Moscows of different sizes.

In addition to providing a decent means of livelihood to Nandakumar and his team, people marketing his unique utensils in Nagaland, Mizoram, Myanmar and Shillong have also been to augment their income, he said.

At present, Nandakumar and his team could manufacture 10 sets of Mizo Cookers and Moscows daily by hand only excepting the finishing machine made by Nandakumar himself.

But erratic power supply often poses great inconveniences in manufacturing the targeted number of sets.

To a query, Nandakumar said that he did not receive any assistance from the Government or any private agency.

His mad-made products have never been showcased in any exhibition or mela, he added.

However, KK Foundry is now a registered body.

But Nandakumar's micro enterprise is facing dislocation as Nandakumar's homestead is affected by the land acquisition process of the Government for expansion of Tulihal Airport.

As such, Nandakumar and his men are anxious whether they would not be able to meet public demand in time.

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