Rediscovering Nahan’s Antique Legacy: The Unique ‘Scottish Water Pump’ from Nahan Foundry

Nahan, August 5: While the products of ‘Nahan Foundry’ in Himachal Pradesh were not only recognized within the country but also had a reputation abroad, the antique items associated with the foundry have gradually vanished. Fortunately, a few of these antique items may have been preserved in the city, as it appears that the significance of these artifacts might not have been fully understood.

We are here to shed light on a unique creation from the foundry – the ‘Stand Post Hydrant Water Pump’. Interestingly, the non-functional hand pump installed years ago at Yashwant Chowk in Nahan was covered by this new structure. Amidst everyone’s admiration for the beauty of Yashwant Chowk, no one noticed that the stand post had a “Scottish Water Pump Install” sign.

A citizen of the city revealed in a conversation that the structure on both sides resembles a lion. During the princely era, these hand pumps were installed in various areas to quench people’s thirst. MBM News Network attempted to gather more information about this, only to discover that this Scottish water pump is also installed in the Daggshai Museum.

Meanwhile, Municipal Inspector Sulaiman stated that the non-functional hand pump was placed at Yashwant Chowk to enhance its beauty. It also became clear that the Scottish water pump was produced in the Nahan Foundry. It’s worth noting that the Nahan Foundry used to manufacture products made of raw iron. It was a unique foundry in the entire country. The existence of the established foundry, established in 1875, has now come to an end. Although the foundry continued to operate after the integration of Sirmaur State into the Indian Republic, it faced a decline due to weakened political representation since the 1980s.

In the midst of this, Major Deepak Dhawan, Deputy Director of the Soldier Welfare Board, commented that such antiques should be preserved. He expressed regret that the city’s heritage has not been adequately protected. It should be mentioned that about 10-12 years ago, the antique items present in Nahan Foundry were listed for preservation, with the intent of establishing a museum. However, this idea was buried by politics. Moreover, no one knows where these antique items related to the foundry are currently located.