Meerut, one of the oldest cities of Uttar Pradesh is known for many things including its historic importance and cultural impact on the country. The city has also been home to many skilled artisans who handicraft high-quality scissors, making it a significant hub for this essential tool.
The scissors manufactured in Meerut are particularly used for making garments and domestic uses. Almost all parts of the scissors are pre-used in some forms. The blades are made from recycled carbon steel sourced from scrap metal. The handles are made of metal alloys. The first such scissors were made by Asli Akhun in the year 1653.
It is also said that Meerut scissors have their origins in the city's fondness for consuming paan or betel leaf. Apart from the many ingredients necessary to make the paan, many tools including the most important, a betel nut cracker was essential. All kinds of nut crackers demanded high quality crafting that including sharp blades and a pivot. Hence, the beginning of scissor production in the 1600s.
A specialty of the Meerut scissors is that they can be repaired and reused multiple times. In fact, in January 2013, Meerut scissors qualified for its own geographical indication. It was 164th among a list of such specially targeted commodities in India.
Being an established industry in the city, Meerut is home to more than 250 small scale scissor making units employing more than a lakh people. The process of making these scissors is largely manual and ranges from tailor scissors to barber scissors to many other varieties.
Despite being focused on domestic markets, the scissors manufactured in Meerut are always high in demand because of their excellent quality and nationwide popularity. The city also has a dedicated market area called ‘Kainchi Bazar’ (scissors market) where small scale manufacturers operate.
So, do you own a pair of scissors made in Meerut?