Miniature juttis catch residents’ fancy

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 10

Strolling across the premises of the Punjab International Trade Expo, people, especially youngsters, take a halt at the footwear stall of Budh Ram. What attracts them most is the miniature Punjabi juttis (footwear) put on display, some as little as half the finger that people can’t keep themselves from having a close look at.

Budh Ram, who hails from Patiala, has brought his unique collection to the expo that has been going on at Ranjit Avenue in the city. He has been making the traditional Punjabi footwear as small as a grain of rice to 9 feet in his career that began at the age of 18. He learnt the art from his father and elder brother.

He has also kept these small juttis for sale in the trade expo. The trade expo that began on December 7 will conclude tomorrow.

Talking about the idea of creating such small juttis, he said, “It is my passion. It is out of love that I create such small juttis. They have been displayed at various places.”

At present, these handmade juttis are also available for purchase for Rs 50. However, the one as small as size of rice is not for sale and is part of his personal collection. “It takes months to make these. It is a continuous process of falling and succeeded.”

“All the footwear are handmade. Their price begins from Rs 50 and goes up to Rs 600. We also have them in leather,” he says.

Budh has also been awarded a merit certificate from the Department of Industries, Punjab, in Tilla Jutti craft in the state award competition held in 1991-92. Ram, proudly displays this certificate at his counter, every time there is an exhibition. He says it is a matter of honor for him to be recognised. This is a source of motivation.

Budh is a part of the small scale industries stalls put up by the authorities concerned to promote the work of such units. These are also catching the fancy of the residents, especially children.

“I am amazed at the size of the juttis. They are like the one I have in a real life,” said Jasmehar Kaur, a student accompanied by her father Chitwinder Singh.