Particle Board

Dear All ,

A bank near by my residence is undergoing interior renovation . The whole
place is messed up with wires strewn all over , false ceiling hanging down ,
electricians , carpenters , and plumbers vying for space with bank employees
and customers .

The raw material to be used for interiors is all over the place . The
carpenters are using teak wood , plywood , veneer and what surprised me most
was that they were using particle board .

Indian carpenters hate to use particle board . Abroad especially for low
price ready made furniture , particle board is the way to go. It is the
foremost sign of screwdriver technology . The medium has moderate strength ,
is homogenous in structure , easy to cut and come ready with both sides
coated . Particle boards are machine made by compacting wood particles
alongwith some bonding agent . Thus it has an even texture and easy to cut
and takes screws in any direction .

In ready made knock down furniture you will get the finished product diagram
, plates cut to size and shape and instructions on how to put it all
together using just a screwdriver . You have to follow the instructions ,
put it all together and screw it tight. a cupboard , or a computer trolley
or a study table is virtually twenty minute job . Not only that it can be
dissembled , packed , and carted away just as easily .

This is precisely the reason that the Indian carpenter hates it. There is
not much to do , repairs are also not necessary and if something breaks it
can just be replaced as easily by the owner himself . The carpenter becomes
redundant . Putting up the particle board furniture takes much less time
thus reducing the labor charges . Overall price is low , so commission
payments are low . Particle boards come in different colors precoated thus
sunmica coating is not necessary and also we can fix any wall paper to it .
The carpenters skills one by one are sacrificed on the altar of readymade .
The particle board had not entered India till now due to the stiff
resistance and reluctance of the carpenter lobby . Now that I see carpenters
themselves using it , they are resigned to the fate and globalization has
been ushered in .

Generally people talk about the percolation of internet , mobile telephones
, malls , cable TV , reduced air fares as examples of globalization
penetration . But I believe that rather than the battle of the elites , the
battle of the mind is crucial . The lower rungs of the society are seen to
be more resistant to change as in the short term their livelihood is under
threat . This is one of the reasons why grocers oppose Reliance Fresh
outlets , shopkeepers do not want malls nearby and car mechanics talk
disparagingly of the new models on the road and farmers oppose corporate
farming . When the lower rungs begin to accept changes and begin to change
then the change is truly in and will stay .

In any job , be it computerization , change of policy , change of timings
only when the working class , or the proletariat accepts it , it is there to
stay .