THE LAST OF LEBUH GHAUT'S DHOBI MEN

By K.GANESON

PENANG (Malaysia,) June 8 (Bernama) -- It is like going back in time. That
is how one feels after taking a walk through the narrow lane of Dobi Ghaut
settlement in the northern state of Penang.

This settlement located between Jalan Air Hitam (Air Hitam Road) and York
Road, is occupied by traditional Indian laundry cleaning service providers who
have been operating there generations after generations.

Long lines of linen including colourful sarees - bright red, yellow, green
and blue - left to dry under the sun dominate the view.

The trade here has hardly changed since it started more than 100 years ago,
with the laundry still being hand washed and pressed using charcoal iron. Many
of them operate within old wooden structures and the settlement is obscured by
the rapid development in the surrounding area.


THE TRADITIONAL DHOBI IS DYING

Nonetheless, the days of these dhobi men and their trade seems to be
numbered.

This is because the number of dhobi entrepreneurs have steadily declined
with currently only 13 of them left in the trade.

One of the last dhobi men, A. Ramu, 65, recalled that in the 1970s there
were about 150 of them in the area providing the dhobi service.

"The rest have passed on or shifted to other places," said Ramu who has been
in this business for the last 50 years.

Ramu, who is the third generation to undertake the family business, laments
that the younger generation is no longer keen in the business.


WASH WITHOUT MACHINE

It is a tough life for these dhobi men especially with limited number of
helping hands nowadays and the competition from launderettes and washing
machines at home. They are still in the trade due to the labour of love.

Though modern launderettes use sophisticated washing machines, the dhobi
entrepreneurs are sticking to their traditional method of hand wash.

Ramu who is assisted by his younger brother, Muniandy, 62, starts work at 8
am and continues until 8 pm daily.

Muniandy, admitted that the traditional laundry washing process is time
consuming and labourious.

"In the old days we used to wash the laundry in the nearby Air Terjun
river," he told Bernama.

But it is no longer the case now as the washing chore is done in-house using
tap water because the river water is no longer clean.


THE WAY OF DOING IT

"First, the clothes are soaked with detergent before being scrubbed
and rinsed. Then it is dried under the sun and pressed," he said.

The laundry is then sent to their respective owners using another
traditional method - bicycle.

"My brother and I cycle to collect and deliver our customer's laundry
around George Town and Bayan Baru," said Muniandy while washing the laundry.

It takes them two days to wash and another two days to dry and iron the
clothes.

"The customers will get their laundry about one week after we collect them,"
he said.

The brothers charge between RM1 (US$.30) and RM8 (US$2.42) to wash and press
per laundry item depending on its size, and they wash between 100kg and 150kg of
laundry daily.

Another of the last dhobi man, V. Manoharan, 42, the fourth generation in
this business, pointed out that many still prefer hand washed clothes.

"Though washing machines are the norm now, but there are still some who like
their clothes to be washed the old way," he said.

No matter what, these dhobi men are all well aware of the fate awaiting
their trade. But, Lebuh Ghaut will be remembered by the locals for what it was
once known, 'Vannan Thora Tedal', literally meaning the laundry district in
Tamil.
-- BERNAMA