kājal (lamp black)

Ingredients

yellow soap (zard ṣābun), fresh goat fat, grease (cupṛā lākh), pure yellow wax (mūm ḵẖāliṣ zard), lamp black (kājal), mustard oil (kaṛve tel)

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The recipe for 'litho writing ink' (kāpī kī roshnāʾī) is detailed as follows: 4 parts (ḥiṣṣeh) yellow soap (zard ṣābun); 4 parts fresh goat fat of good quality; 4 parts properly cleaned grease (cupṛā lākh); 8 parts pure yellow wax (mūm ḵẖāliṣ zard); and 1/8 part high-quality lamp black (kājal) (p. 101). The author notes that if mustard oil (kaṛve tel) is available, it is superior for the recipe (p. 101). The ink is prepared by dissolving these ingredients in water before use (p. 101).

Evidence

"This ink is used to write on the litho stone or on paper and is called ‘litho writing ink’ in English. 4 parts (ḥiṣṣeh) yellow soap (zard ṣābun); 4 ḥiṣṣeh fresh goat fat of good quality; 4 ḥiṣṣeh grease (cupṛā lākh) that is properly cleaned; 8 ḥiṣṣeh pure yellow wax (mūm ḵẖāliṣ zard); and finally, 1/8 ḥiṣṣah good quality lamp black (kājal), but if mustard oil (kaṛve tel) is available, then that is better."

Remarks

In Colonial North India, Hindustani-made ink was considered cheaper and superior to British (vilāyatī) imports (p. 101). Kanpuri ink was specifically famous and used widely in presses (p. 101). The manual suggests that manufacturing this ink locally required minimal investment and could be highly profitable (p. 101).