KASAULI: Today, while walking along the serene Kathni stream one may come across an old man Sukhdev the proud custodian of the last surviving traditional Gharat (water flour mill) in the area.
In the picture, one can see him standing beside the original stone grinders that have served generations for over 60 years.
For the past 25 years, Sukhdev has been running this Gharat with unwavering dedication. Every year, the small reservoir he builds across the stream is washed away by flash floods. With no government support and very limited resources, he rebuilds it again and again — purely out of love for this tradition.
But for the last three years, the Gharat remained silent.
He simply didn’t have the funds to reconstruct the damaged reservoir.
Three days ago, using every rupee he had saved over these years, he rebuilt it once more and determined to keep the Gharat alive.
Anyone can move by his spirit and promised to support him financially and by helping him sell his traditional “Gharat ka Atta.”
His production cost is Rs 55–60 per kg
We aim to sell it at Rs150 per kg
The additional Rs 90 per kg will help him rebuild and maintain the reservoir every year. A permanent pacca structure would cost around Rs90, 000– Rs 1 lakh which can save this heritage for decades to come.
Anyone who wishes to support or buy Gharat ka atta may contact:
Sukhdev – 9805865279 Let us come together to protect this beautiful Himalayan tradition and help a man who refuses to let history fade away.
Together, we can keep the Gharat rolling for our generation to consume gharat ka atta.