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made in india

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Day 11:  After I found the video from yesterday, I came upon the trailer for the documentary Cast In India.  I have seen the covers stamped with Made In India in NYC and was curious about them.

 

MW NYC madeinIndia

 

After seeing how the foundries in the US manufacture covers, it is very interesting to get a glimpse of production in India.  No automated machinery – each piece is a collaboration among workers.  Man made vs. machine – portions of the stamping pressed into place with skill.  I was thrilled to have found my way to Natasha Raheja who has documented the process in her short film Cast In India.  She is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and is currently pursuing a PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology at New York University with a Certificate in Culture and Media.  Natasha agreed to participate in today's post by allowing me to share about her film – educating us about the activity a world away that shows up underfoot here.  Visit her site to learn more – there are several wonderful reviews/interviews linked on her PRESS page.  Thanks Natasha!

 

 

CastInIndiaDocumentary

 

Cast in India Trailer from Natasha Raheja on Vimeo.

 

MW INDIAUSA

I learned from listening to one of the interviews with Natasha that manhole covers in the US are produced here at home, in India, China and Romania.  I really love seeing how things are made don't you?

Comments

8 responses to “made in india”

  1. RL Reff Avatar
    RL Reff

    Wow! It is so different from the factory made ones. They are all barefoot around that hot metal. I hope they get paid a bunch for their work.

    Reply
  2. RL Reff Avatar
    RL Reff

    Wow! It is so different from the factory made ones. They are all barefoot around that hot metal. I hope they get paid a bunch for their work.

    Reply
  3. Bobbi Mastrangelo Avatar
    Bobbi Mastrangelo

    Hi Michelle,
    I really enjoyed “Cast in India” the documentary film by Natasha Raheja
    In this documentary the men are singing and subtitles are given.
    My website has a link to this Documentary: “How Manhole Covers are Made” by Adam Huggins a NY Times Photo Journalist. Here the men also work barefoot in an environment of intense heat, but there is no singing. His amazing photos of the foundry process and the workers involved are so artful that one can almost see and feel the flames and see the steam rising.
    http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/11/21/nyregion/20071126_MANHOLE_FEATURE.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1196950921-n5GpU3urOOBZLn6Mb66q+A&_r=0#
    Kudos, Michelle! You are giving your readers an amazing education about Manhole Covers! and I am enjoying each episode immensely!
    “Grate Wishes!”
    Bobbi Mastrangelo
    grateworks@aol.com

    Reply
  4. Bobbi Mastrangelo Avatar
    Bobbi Mastrangelo

    Hi Michelle,
    I really enjoyed “Cast in India” the documentary film by Natasha Raheja
    In this documentary the men are singing and subtitles are given.
    My website has a link to this Documentary: “How Manhole Covers are Made” by Adam Huggins a NY Times Photo Journalist. Here the men also work barefoot in an environment of intense heat, but there is no singing. His amazing photos of the foundry process and the workers involved are so artful that one can almost see and feel the flames and see the steam rising.
    http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/11/21/nyregion/20071126_MANHOLE_FEATURE.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1196950921-n5GpU3urOOBZLn6Mb66q+A&_r=0#
    Kudos, Michelle! You are giving your readers an amazing education about Manhole Covers! and I am enjoying each episode immensely!
    “Grate Wishes!”
    Bobbi Mastrangelo
    grateworks@aol.com

    Reply
  5. michelleward Avatar
    michelleward

    RL, I worried about all those bare feet myself. I don’t know much about how they are paid but hopefully it is improving. Thanks for stopping by.

    Reply
  6. michelleward Avatar
    michelleward

    RL, I worried about all those bare feet myself. I don’t know much about how they are paid but hopefully it is improving. Thanks for stopping by.

    Reply
  7. michelleward Avatar
    michelleward

    Bobbi, thanks for the link to Adam Huggins visual report. It’s another terrific education to see how these covers are made – just astounding to see the bare feet, and proximity to the molten metal. Thanks for being by biggest cheerleader – you are also the biggest inspiration!

    Reply
  8. michelleward Avatar
    michelleward

    Bobbi, thanks for the link to Adam Huggins visual report. It’s another terrific education to see how these covers are made – just astounding to see the bare feet, and proximity to the molten metal. Thanks for being by biggest cheerleader – you are also the biggest inspiration!

    Reply

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