Ancient iron making in India-historical perspective, technological aspects and future prospects

In ancient times iron was being made all over the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and North-West region (now in Pakistan) to North-East region of India. The ancient scriptures and legends have extensive references about the use of iron. Indian craftsmen used to produce quality iron from the locally available iron ores and utilise the metal for making household articles, weapons and agricultural implements. In those days iron making was more an art rather than a science. Today it is on the verge of extinction. Therefore, it is necessary to explore and develop those processes in the perspective of modern scientific knowledge. Once developed, it is expected to help the tribal and rural populace of India. The paper discusses the historical perspectives and technological considerations to make the ancient process of iron making economically viable and efficient.