Tamil Nadu: Temple orders 5kg locks from Dindigul lockmaker

DINDIGUL: Six huge ‘mango locks’ weighing 5kg each have been commissioned by the Thirupathy Thirumala temple from a traditional lock maker in Dindigul.
Dindigul locks are world renowned and most sought after. These locks are available in many types such as system locks, bullet locks, bell locks and mango locks. Lock maker A Murugesan, 53, with 43 years of experience in the industry, said Dindigul locks, which were given the GI tag in August 2019, can not be compared with any other lock across the globe.
“Each lock is designed uniquely depending on where the levers fall in place. Each of them opens only at a specific angle and each one is handmade,’’ said Murugesan.
He said his locks are used in major temples across Tamil Nadu including Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple in Madurai, Sri Abirami temple in Dindigul and Chidambaram Natarajah temple. Thirupathi temple had commissioned some locks from him in 2013 and now he has received the opportunity to make locks for them again.
The six locks made of brass and iron cost 10,000 each, and took about three to four days to make. While four of them are of 8x6 inches, two are slightly smaller at 6x4 inches. If the keys of these locks are lost, the buyers would have to come back to the maker or cut the lock with an iron saw. Despite the GI tag, most of the lock makers are finding it difficult to make ends meet.
Murugesan, who is financially-backed by three of his earning children, says he would continue to develop the dying trade. “If the government appoints an IAS officer, professor and establishes an institute, I am ready to work without any salary in training young ITI students on the nuances of making these handmade locks. I can produce 250 students per year. If other lock makers are also brought in we can revive the trade by producing more students in two years,’’ he said.