This paper is an ethnographic documentation of the people who make a living by engaging in traditional occupations which were passed on to them as “family traditions” in the medieval city of Shahjahanabad, now known as Old Delhi. These occupations are dependent on physical labor, use minimal technology and their social relationships with their kinsfolk, employers and others around them are based on old world social and emotional networks. Technology has played a substantial part in the loss of livelihood and business for them. Outside the Medieval walled city of Shahjahanabad, their trades do not pay or mean much as the rest of the New Delhi, has embraced modern technology and these occupations do not fit in the new scheme of things. Modern new technology based economy neither can support nor replace such professions’. Medieval walled city is as important for the traditional occupations’ to survive as they are to the Old city's survival. Very few of these craftsmen’ want their family traditions to be passed on to their children as for most survival is a struggle today. Most of these traditional crafts’ people stay in areas segregated from other communities on the basis of their occupations in caste-kin based neighbourhoods (For example, Mohalla Dhobiyan or Gadhewalon ki gali of Shahjahanabad).
Some of the traditional vocations threatened by technology on the verge of extinction are: Darner, Bhishti, Qalaigar, Rangrez, Tonga Drivers/animal keepers (Gadhewalas), Calligraphers, Book binders, Embroiderers (including the Zari, Zardozi, Karchobi, Kamdani, Tarkashi, Salma Sitara and Gota Kinari workers), Traditional perfumers, Copper and Brass engravers, to name a few.
Traditional livelihoods across religions and communities also mean existence of social realms where economic lives are still dependent on the social relations between communities.
