Waraq-makers bridge religious divide

HYDERABAD: The example of Md Waliuddin and his 16 artisans could rate as one of the best examples of Ram-Rahim unity. For the past several years, these artisans have been dressing up gods in gold in temples across the country.
These waraq-makers are among the few in the country who have adorned idols in Tirupati, Mailadurai temple in Thiruvananthapuram and Ezhumalai in Kerala, the Parthasarthy temple in Chennai, the Golden Car of Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy Thirukkoil in Coimbatore.Waraq is the thin decorative sheet of silver or gold often seen on a sweet or paan.
"From June 28 to the first week of October last year, we were in Singapore, where we dressed the idols with waraq extracted from 10 kg of gold," Waliuddin recalled. Gold and silver waraq that Waliuddin and his men make are exported to the US.
From the humble by-lanes near Charminar, theirs has been a long journey. Working in temples ensures them five to six times their usual income. "How many people get a chance to dress the Gods," Waliuddin asked. "Our happiest moment was when our work was appreciated by the Shankaracharya at Coimbatore," he said.
But the characteristic rhythmic sound of waraq-making which rings through the by-lanes of Charminar might just be the dying sound of the profession. Business is good, but these craftsmen hardly want their children to ply their trade. Most of them make about Rs 140 per pack.
"But we want our children to go to school. They should earn more than us, and perhaps, make so much money that they are in a position to buy as many mounds of gold and silver as we beat into shape every day," Md Osman, an artisan, said.