Shyamsundar Krishna Harmalkar: The Traditional Carpenter of Santarxette, Aldona

Goa, March 16 -- JENIFER FERNANDES

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ALDONA: Shyamsundar Krishna Harmalkar, a beloved resident of Santarxette, Aldona, has dedicated over 50 years to traditional carpentry, specialising in house repairs and wooden furniture restoration - all while still using manual tools. With no formal training, Harmalkar learned the craft under the guidance of his uncle, spending three years as an unpaid apprentice before mastering the trade.

Recalling his early days, Harmalkar explained how people once bought logs and soaked them in rivers for months to ensure durability. This method produced wood that could last for decades, unlike today's practice of cutting and using logs immediately, which drastically reduces their lifespan....