Rampuri Chaku: A 20-foot Rampuri knife installed in Uttar Pradesh

'Rampuri Chaku', a style of knife made famous by the Bollywood flicks of the 1980s, has been given a fitting tribute here by authorities which named a roundabout 'chaku' chowk and installed in its centre a 20-foot Rampuri knife.

Rampur, located 320 km north of Lucknow, was once known for its several small-scale units that made high-quality foldable knives.

The 'knife' was inaugurated by Moradabad Divisional Commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh in presence of senior officials and local leaders. The roundabout on Nainital road marks the entry point to Rampur when travelling from Uttarakhand. Rampur MLA Akash Saxena, who was also present at the unveiling of the big knife, said Rampuri knife used to be a symbol of fear once, but today it is being recognised as a craft.

The MLA said that the authorities have appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to keep the industries involved in knife-making out of GST. Local traders on the other hand believe that the new roundabout may give a boost to the demand of the trademark knife, but still a lot needs to be done.