Khargupur: Bell metal & brass craft declines, artisans struggle for livelihood.

• खरगूपुर, Gonda, was historically known as the "city of flowers and brass" due to its traditional utensil craftsmanship.
• The production of "phool" (flower) and brass utensils declined due to high production costs and reduced market demand.
• Former artisans have shifted to other livelihoods like grocery stores, vegetable shops, or migrated for labor.
• Currently, only cleaning/polishing of old "phool" utensils or selling imported ones occurs in Khargupur.
• "Phool" utensils are still in demand for weddings.

Why It Matters: Kharagpur's lost craft reveals how market forces destroy traditional livelihoods.