Kalai

Kalai is the process of coating tin in the inner surface of brass and copper vessel which are used for cooking. The process is called Kalai as tin is known as kalai in Hindi. When food is cooked in vessels coated with kalai, the metal gets mixed into the food in very small amount which is considered healthy. It is good for the lungs and prevents lung diseases.

It also makes the food taste better compared to when it is cooked in other vessels.

Riyaz Rangrez

Riyaz Rangrez’s family has been in this business since the past 200 years. He is originally from Rajasthan but he lives in Danilimbda, Jamalpur. His shop is in Jamalpur, since 55 years, where he does the work of kalai and sells copper and brass vessels and antique showpieces as well.

He opens the shop at 11:00 in the morning and closes at 8:00 at night. Apart from this he also goes to hotels for doing kalai, during which his father manages the shop. In his shop there are 5 labourers and including his family members there are 10 people working in the shop. The rates are according to the labour charge and the amount of material used.

He buys the kalai metal from National shop in Kalupur in bulk according to the requirement. He does not go to the market but orders the kalai on call. The kalai is imported from Russia. The metal comes in form of slabs. They bring these slabs on two-wheelers or in auto rickshaws.

The process of kalai starts with melting the slab of kalai in water on a gas stove to make it into coils. As soon as the the stove is turned off, the kalai solidifies.

The vessel which needs to be coated is cleaned with a mixture of caustic soda and water to remove all the oil, stickiness and dirt from the vessel. It is further cleaned with mud and acid.

Navsar chemical is added to the vessel to ,ensure that it is clean and the coating happens properly, and it is then heated, more chemical is put in the vessel and cleaned with a bale of cotton. Immediately after this, a piece of coil is added to the vessel and it melts instantly due to the heat.

This liquified metal is spread in the vessel using a bale of cotton. The metal sticks to the surface right away. The vessel is then directly put in water. The kalai they use is 100% pure.

Uncleaned vessels

Kalai Navsar Chemical

Cleaning vessel in hot water

Veseel after Kalai

Riyazbhai has been doing kalai on the vessels of Agashiye since the past 15 years, before whom one of his labourer’s relative had a contract with The House of MG.

Along with kalai, he has been supplying brass showpieces to Ahmedabad Trunk since the past 25 years. He comes to Agashiye every three-four months and does the kalai on brass vessels used for cooking and serving, copper jugs used to store juice and buttermilk. The relation between Riyazbhai and House of MG has last this long due to the good service provided by him.