From clanging glory to crushing quiet. Khalisahi's bell metal heart has stopped. See the before, witness the after. A legacy fading... is it too late to relight the flame? When our OCO Fellows arrived, they found a village where the rhythmic clang of hammer on metal had all but disappeared. Workshops lay abandoned, and artisans who once breathed life into molten metal had long moved on.

With just one surviving workplace, Khalisahi’s centuries-old bell metal tradition is on the brink of extinction. The village, once known for its skilled metalworkers crafting exquisite ritualistic and everyday objects, now faces a loss of knowledge, artisans, and resources. The fellows engaged with the last remaining craftsmen, uncovering stories of resilience, struggle, and an uncertain future.

Bell metal has been an integral part of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage, with its origins dating back to ancient times. The craft once flourished, producing everything from temple bells to household utensils, symbolizing durability and devotion. Yet, in Khalisahi, this tradition is rapidly disappearing—leaving behind echoes of a glorious past.

The visit to Khalisahi was a stark reminder that when a craft dies, history dies with it. Through research and documentation, our OCO Fellows are working to preserve the untold stories of these artisans and their craft before they are lost to time.