By Ravi Khandelwal
There are any numbers of small-scale industries in Punjab which rely completely on local artisans to create objects of finesse. The furniture industry in Kartarpur is one such, attracting NRI Punjabis by the droves.


Generations of Muslim carvers, hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur District, have perfected this traditional craft in Kartarpur, and passing it on Sikhs in the hope of keeping the decades-old tradition of manufacturing intricate furniture alive.
The furniture has Mehrab, jail and grapevine motifs.
Right from the Vishwakarma Market to the main road connecting Jalandhar, Kartarpur has a dozen swanky showrooms, catering to local and foreign markets.
Mohinder Pal Singh, a furniture manufacturer and exporter said: The foreign customers like the carving on the wood. They prefer sofas and double-beds with intricate designs on it. Indian customers prefer Chinese furniture with simple and flat surfaces. NRI customers demand good quality furniture.”
Be it a chair, a bed, a sofa or a dining table, the furniture is made of pure sheesham teakwood, and Kartarpur furniture’s unique selling point is its durability.
“Whenever they visit Punjab, I bring them for shopping. Many a time, Kartarpur’s furniture is exported to England. Now-a-days, wrought iron furniture has taken over. People buy it, but it’s not durable. We always prefer sheesham furniture,” Mohinder said. (ANI)