This Charpoy ad from Australia has thrown Twitter into a frenzy

When a traditional bed from rural India takes limelight on social media, what have got to do but engage

By: Shamita Harsh |
October 6, 2017 11:44 am

Charpoy or khatiya is a traditional Indian bed which counteless houses across rural India use to this day. The old-fashioned bed which is assembled manually with jute ropes and a wooden frame has taken center stage on social media. A viral ad from Australia featuring a basic charpoy has made Twitterati go ballistic. The desi version of a bed has gone viral not for its authentic value but for its price. The ‘Traditional Indian Daybed’ is being sold for a whopping $990, which amounts to roughly Rs 50,000.

The ad that hit social media describes the charpoy as if it were a delicacy with phrases like “beautiful Maple timber” with strong “Mortise and Tenon joints” with strong “Manila rope hand-woven bedding”. The personal ad writes for itself, but it was considered too posh and sophisticated for the Indian relic that is a symbol of our heritage.

Some people became nostalgic, others were busy peddling their own old charpoys to encash on the trend and sell their old beds. While others on social media weighed in on why the charpoy is so popular among foreigners and how it is not appreciated in its own land.

While Indians are made to feel ashamed of rural lifestyle, many others have started to appreciate & use “Datun”, “Dona” & now “Charpoy”. pic.twitter.com/w2k4Wk8nCe

— Ashima Singh (@AshiQuotes) October 5, 2017

Wow! how they sell it in Australia! 990 Australian dollars is ₹50,500/-
& here we forgot it for modernity’s sake#Charpoy #Horasu #Baazala pic.twitter.com/hNfFvhlOfl

— समीर: देसाई (@gavyasudha) October 5, 2017

Some people saw business opportunity

high time our MSME ppl capitalised on this niche market & clientele.@sgurumurthy @madhukishwar @ShefVaidya https://t.co/C332wBEPyP

— V Ramanathan (@vraman16) October 5, 2017

If this is real #Indians can mint money in #Australia selling our old stuff – #Charpoy #CaneFurniture #Mora #ClothesHorses #ClayUtensils … pic.twitter.com/fnRaFuhdcI

— mainakde (@mainakde) October 5, 2017

Hope they don’t try to patent the design, like the US had tried to with turmeric. And $990 (appx ₹50,482) for a #charpoy! @indira_laisram https://t.co/n4ZGzVOciw

— Utpal Borpujari (@UtpalBorpujari) October 5, 2017

While others debated whether the charpoy was really as extinct as people were treating it to be

It’s not that extinct breed to weave #Charpoy especially in #Bharat https://t.co/nV2P42eYPY

— sandeep guptaसंदीप (@autosandeep) October 4, 2017

Some compared it to iPhone X (Yes, you heard that right!)

One can either buy an #iPhoneX or this #charpoy https://t.co/zahV7XcFv6

— Amit Mishra (@AmitMishra1207) October 5, 2017

Others were busy mocking the hashtags. Some suggested #GharWapsi

We can also use #GharWapsi & #RevisitingRoots hashtags to sell #charpoy https://t.co/Sx4gzLyoUl

— Rizvi Sahab (@RealRizvi) October 5, 2017

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The vintage rope bed is selling like hot cakes, especially thanks to this social media tirade. So have you ordered your charpoy yet?

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