Opinion
Crafting a Future
Sunil Sethi
The DC Handicraft under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles is doing fabulous work by organising various initiatives where there is a direct buyer-seller, artisan – consumer interaction, creating a lucrative interface, minus middlemen. As the call for “Vocal for Local” gains steam, what the need of the hour is lighting up the festival of hope, Diwali, by spreading joy through gifting, with Indian hand-made curios.
This shouldn’t be restricted to just the tokenistic diyas, a brass Ganesh that entrances your pooja room; a sterling silver Lakshmi that brings with her the message of prosperity, this dhanteras but transcends to many other gifting products.
Indian handicrafts, made with slow processes are what the world needs right now, as the Vocal for Local spirit lights up Diwali
Interestingly, Indians who once loved the endearing austerity of Indian handicrafts whether it was an embroidered stole, sparkling with Kashida; Phulkari dupatta; Kantha sari fell to the charms of foreign, sub-standard Chinese replicas. The dire need now is to understand the prowess of what truly India stands for —- pure luxury made by hand with labour-intensive techniques. The clarion call to buy local crafts, sold by smaller stores as well as a dress this festive season with Indian designer wear which is soaked in Indian-ness.
Many attribute globalisation as the reason why people are shifting their preferences from handicrafts as a result true craft is facing peril. This is despite the fact that India is one of the biggest exporters of handlooms/crafts and the second largest employment generator after agriculture. With the work done by the Textile Minister Smriti Irani and the team in promoting Vocal for Local, offering upgraded technology, modern tools, and participation in trade fairs, as well as effective research in product development, has led to artisans getting work all year round. The employment generation in this sector has been growing at about 6-7 per cent yearly, in rural and semi-urban areas. Few know Kering, which owns brands like Gucci and Saint Laurent plans to start a hand embroidery workshop in India to improve working conditions and get direct skills of hand embroidery as well as ensure fairer wages for artisans.
We have been known for art and craft across the globe for centuries and the beauty of handmade lies in the myriad forms the country possesses emerging from its cultural ethos. There are many Corporates , Not for Profit societies and NGO’s that have also made efforts to provide sustenance to artisans many of whom are fast abandoning these age-old family traditions and moving to big cities in search of livelihoods. Others include instituting carpet weaving training centers in Bhadohi-Varanasi-Mirzapur to help weavers earn a steady stipend.
It is heartening when I recently read a piece about an Arts and Crafts Village, set up offering heritage products of Kerala to the world. The Crafts Village has 750 artisans including a Padmashri and Shilp Guru and boasts of handicrafts like ‘pattachitra’ (scroll paintings). These kinds of resuscitations also need to take place in the toy markets of Channapatna, where you will find Kondapalli and Sheesham toys and many artisans have been forced to shut shop due to the pandemic with orders delayed or cancelled. What is needed here is marketing to bring international focus on these toys which are sustainable and chemical-free.It also needs the Indian consumer to rediscover the handcrafted genius that exists.
I would again like to reiterate, the only way to resuscitate the crafts sector is if Indians adopt it wholeheartedly and make an effort this season to create a blueprint for a future that celebrates the vision of being self-reliant! — PIB