An indigenous tool is the Gagai, which is recognized for its sturdy and multipurpose daily objectives and is cut by the Rabha tribe of Assam. Preserved in the Indian Museum, Kolkata, this translates the people's knowledge of tool-making from local material and time-honored technique . This comprises three main components-an iron blade, wooden handle, and iron ferrule. While the blunt side adds stability during use, the cut side is on the sharp edge for slicing, chopping, or crafting. The tang of the blade is securely inserted into the wooden handle through a ferrule, ensuring that the grip is strong and durable even after prolonged use.
The Gagai tool does well in the Rabha household and agriculture, reflecting the self-sufficient life of the Rabha people. The tool is a tradition of indigenous iron and woodworking, having passed down from generation to generation. But then, Gagai survives to be the evidence of the ingenuity of the Rabha tribe, and also a good example of how a very needy tool is made to serve the very essence of form and function.