Lack of modernisation and government apathy towards development of handmade items is leading to the Patangs of Hyderabad being replaced by Weifang kites of China. Consequently, the glory of the families, who were living on the traditional kite-making trade in the old city area for last several decades, have faded slowly.
This is particularly noticeable in the Old City , which used to bustle with the kite making activities, during the Sankranti festive season but has now fallen silent.
A few families here still eke out a living, albeit a meagre one, from the kite trade. The family of Noorjahan of Yakutpura, including her 12 year old handicapped daughter Mariyam can no longer depend on earnings from kites for a living.
Seventy year old Inder Singh of Dhulpet is filled with nostalgia for the time when his 10-member-family was comfortably placed with nearly Rs. 4 lakh income from just five months work on kites every year. But today the family struggles to find other ways of earning.
It is perceived that the Chinese, who invented the kites over 3000 years ago and used it for measuring distances, testing the wind, lifting men, signalling and communication for military operations have penetrated the Indian market. And, somehow we failed to fly high.
