These hard-working Indian people, who are called dhobis by profession, earn about $1 per day for their labor, but, since 1986, when a certain machine was introduced to India for the first time, their livelihood has been threatened. What do they do? be spe

For centuries, the dhobis of India have performed the essential service of laundering clothes. This traditional, often hereditary profession involves working in open-air laundromats known as "dhobi ghats," which are typically situated on the banks of a river or other large body of water. The process is incredibly labor-intensive, involving soaking garments, beating them against flogging stones to remove dirt, scrubbing with soap, and then laying them out on vast lines or fields to dry under the sun. This direct use of natural water sources is central to their craft.

The livelihood of these communities faced a significant challenge beginning in 1986 with the introduction of the first fully automatic washing machines to the Indian market. As urban lifestyles modernized and a middle class grew, the convenience of in-home laundry began to replace the need for