Harsh Goenka Highlights Mehendi-Applying Machine And Its Potential Impact On Jobs

Industrialist Harsh Goenka has shared a post on X featuring a machine that applies mehendi, or henna, designs to a woman's hands, prompting discussion about automation and its potential impact on traditional, skill-based work. The machine appears to apply a detailed design with minimal human involvement, highlighting how technology is increasingly being developed for tasks that have traditionally relied on manual skills.

Goenka shared the post with the caption, “Some more jobs gone,” drawing attention to the possibility of machines replacing certain forms of human labour. Mehendi application is a specialised service commonly associated with weddings, festivals and other celebrations, with professional artists relying on their artistic and practical skills to create designs. The use of a machine for the process has therefore raised questions about whether technology could eventually affect such traditional occupations.

The post has also brought attention to the broader expansion of automation beyond conventional industrial workplaces. Machines and automated systems are increasingly being designed to perform tasks that once required direct human involvement, potentially offering greater speed and consistency. At the same time, the development of such technology can raise concerns for workers whose livelihoods depend on specialised manual skills and services.

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Reactions to Goenka's post were mixed, with several users arguing that professional mehendi artists may not face an immediate threat from the technology. One user questioned whether women would be comfortable placing their hands inside a machine resembling a needle-based device, particularly before important occasions such as weddings. Another user emphasised the value of handmade designs, arguing that the individuality, imperfections and human touch associated with traditional mehendi work cannot easily be replicated by a machine.

Others took a different view of the impact of automation, pointing out that developing and operating such machines could itself generate employment opportunities. One user noted that considerable engineering expertise would be required to design and build the technology, suggesting that automation can also create new forms of work even as it changes existing ones. The discussion therefore extended beyond mehendi application to the wider question of how technological progress may reshape employment.

Goenka's post has ultimately highlighted the continuing debate around automation, human creativity and employment. While machines can potentially perform certain tasks faster and with greater consistency, traditional services often involve personal interaction and artistic judgment that technology may not fully reproduce. The reactions to the post reflect the broader uncertainty over whether automation will primarily replace existing jobs, transform them or create new opportunities alongside them.

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