Tribal handicraft in India

Tribal communities in India comprise an important dimension of the Indian society. The precious heritage of the Indian tradition is an amalgam and harmonious blending of a wide variety of cultures. Indian tribes constitute nearly 8.14% of the total population of India. According to article 342 of the Constitution of India, at present, there are 697 tribes as counted by the Central Government. Each tribe has their own culture and living style and they have always been associated with a rich legacy of locally made items of art and craft, a rage among locals as well as foreign tourists coming to India from different parts of the world.

Ceramic pottery

Tribal groups create awestruck beauty with their raw form of art that tends to appeal all art lovers with a different taste. In fact, their handicrafts are dipped in originality and weaved in creativity. Right from the pre-historic paintings to modern time tribal jewelry, the tribal groups have created magic with every piece of art. They have polished their hands at jewelry, wooden crafts, stones art and carved paintings. Their art form, generally, have the impression of myths, god, legends and natural essence. The tribal people give a great emphasis on the use of bright colors and natural shapes. In fact, their art is the best example of communion with nature. After all, they know the knack of creating beautiful pieces from the nature’s elements. They are also known for making wonderful carving on masks and drums too.

Handicrafts and handlooms are two such industries in India that have their special identity. With a mode of expressing one’s mind, soul, traditions and modern outlook, these two industries have created magic all over the world. The variety and expertise of handicrafts speaks through pottery, metal work, jewelry, wooden art, marble or stone work, paper mache items and toys. On the other hand, the glory of handloom industry can be stated in the form of designer clothes with a variety in fabric, printing styles, designs, patterns and specialized embroideries. In fact, almost every state in India has their own style of handicrafts and handlooms to boast their distinctiveness.

Santhal art

The handicrafts are an expression of thoughts and innovations. It is a field of art that lays the foundation for bonding between cultures and religions. In fact, Indian handicraft and art forms are a reflection of beauty coupled with elegance. As per the tradition in art forms go, each and every state has their own ways to deal with the colors and craft materials. We, generally, get to see the influence of religion, cultural beliefs, lifestyle and traditional practices in the piece of handicrafts made. The prevailing handicraft traditions of India has seen numerous interventions that created a new art out of them. In fact, it has been the influence of passing dynasties that kept on revamping the traditions. And the ability of accepting changes enabled artisans to create masterpieces that became an identity in itself. Some of the states in India have the tradition of weaving gold and silver threads on a piece of silk or cotton, which is known to be Zari or Brocade work. Punjab has the tradition of making very fine embroidery called as Phulkari. What makes a tradition being followed for so many years, I guess it is their hard work and creative input involved in it and after all appreciators of handicraft always go for the exclusive designs that have not been available to them in their native place. Moreover, handicrafts in India have ventured in to the homes, office spaces and various other places as a mode of decoration. They enhance the overall look of a place and add vivacity to it.

Each state has their own tradition and they are the best in their field. From carvings to bronze castings, brassware, metal and stone work, Andhra people have created a special place in the field of art. The most famous thing here is the use of pearls in various designs of jewelry. And it is Hyderabad, which is well-known for this form of art. Some of the other forms of art which can be checked are Bidri craft and Kondapalli toys.

In Bihar it is the women that are dominating over the crafts. Traditional Madhubani paintings, bangle making, designer stone work and Sikki craft are some of the famous tradition which is still followed with more creativity in their art which is a blend of traditional and modern art.

The Rajasthani handicrafts are famous worldwide for its classicism and ethnicity. From stones to marble, pots, bowls, plates, wall clocks, hangings, leather, wood, painting and jewelry, one can see the touch of royalty in everything. Not just royalness in everything; but also the touch of rural lifestyle that makes Rajasthani handicrafts popular worldwide. Rajasthan is known for palaces and kingly status, which is quite visible in its crafts. The unique thing to notice in Rajasthani handicrafts is that the work is based on the life of Maharajas of Rajasthan and their love for craftsmanship in every corner. Another thing to be checked out is the use of vibrant colors, red, yellow and green being prominent. It is because of the liveliness in the culture of Rajasthan that such colors are kept in prominence.

Orissa shows a glimpse of traditions and religious practices in the handicrafts that are designed with much finesse. The tradition of Palm Leaf Writing is still prevalent; though, it is seen in some of the local households. Even, marriage cards, at present, are also written on Palm Leaf to some extent. The wooden carvings, stone art, patta paintings and appliqué art form are some of the most loved possessions of Orissa. A best part of the handicrafts from Orissa is that they make use of tamarind glue, chalk powder and various other things in making their masterpieces of painting bases.

Jharkhand being a tribal state it is quite famous for artistic handicrafts. The specialty of this state is that the artisans are well-trained in making stylish wooden door panels, windows, boxes and kitchenware. These can be used in home and office decoration for enhancing the look of a place and lending it a thematic presence. One can also catch a glimpse of woman and men making bamboo or cane baskets, boxes and other important items of daily usage. Even the Paitkar paintings in Jharkhand are also famous, as they depict life after death. Apart from this, metal work is also quite beautiful and stylish in this state.

The contemporary and traditional art and craft is seen at its best in West Bengal. With an expertise in metal work, leather craft, cane art, jute products, brass work, pottery, masks and sandalwood carvings, the craftsmen of West Bengal have created a special place for themselves in the heart of craft lovers. One of the most pieces of art from Bengal is the Terracotta Bankura Horse. The carvings in Bengal and Dhokra art form are one of the most demandable art forms in the world.

The state of Tamil Nadu has an innovative story of handicrafts to recite. Since, it is located on the Bay of Bengal; the majority of handicrafts deal with sea products and stone structures. It is the traditional jewelry that has been attracting the customers. In designing the jewelry, craftsmen give high importance to gems and stones. There is a belief that Nine Jewels (Navratna) is the symbol of warding off evils. Another form of jewelry piece famous in Tamil Nadu is gold waist belt that is worn with saree. In fact, it is form of traditional ornament that is worn by almost every woman.

Mural art

In Jammu and Kashmir along with the existing traditions of handicraft designs, latest trends and changes are also incorporated to create a perfect fusion. The most form of craft used in this state after carpet weaving is wooden work done made from Walnut wood. Boxes, trunks and furniture made from it bear very fine carvings that enhance the look of an art piece. Even, copperware and silver work is also famous in Jammu and Kashmir for their sheer beauty, creativity and magnificence.

Himachal Pradesh is the land of greenery and in such an environment one of the most sought after form of craft is wooden work. Another one to catch up is metal work, which is the proof of fine art form. The silver jewelry in Himachal Pradesh is the soul of the state. Silversmiths of Himachal Pradesh are quite skilled in making engraved silver glasses, tea pots, lamp stands and fruit trays. In fact, Himachal is also famous for woolen handicrafts in the form of shawls, jackets, caps and carpets.

 The state of Maharashtra has a perfect blend of diverse handicraft cultures. From traditional art forms of Ajanta caves to modern style leather wear, everything is designed with giving importance to minute things also. Its famous Sawantwadi painting craft form is liked by all. Another art form famous in Maharashtra is leather work, which can be seen at Kolhapur in the form of chappals and sandals. These chappals are also prepared with thread embroideries on them, so as to give them a fashionable look. Even, the Warli paintings of Maharashtra introduce us to tribal art form.

 The artisans of Uttar Pradesh are skilled in making light weight jewelry which are easy to wear, beside that the colorful bangles of Uttar Pradesh are quite famous for their exclusive designs.One can also find a touch of religious faith in the artifacts of Keralites. In this state, one can find artisans using rosewood. Along with this, another piece of attraction is the carvings on coconut shell.The women of Jalandhar, Kartarpur and Hoshiarpur, generally, make pidhi that are carved out of wood. Afterwards, they are covered with lacquer and beautiful designs are woven with threads. Beside this the designer Punjabi juttis are major attraction throughout the world.

The rich historical story of pottery making dating back to Indus Valley Civilization, Gujarat has been known for changing thoughts into reality. From that time to now, the Gujarati tradition of handicrafts has shown its expertise in the field of textile designing, wooden carvings, metal and brass work. Another thing to check out is the designer art jewelry by Gujarati craftsmen. From the vulnerable designs of jewelry art pieces, the art of using beads, pearls and other gems to the best of their creations is clearly visible. Silver art jewelry is the specialty of this state.

 Sikkim is a place where lot of idols being carved on wood can be seen in monasteries and temples. Well, that’s not all. One can also find various types of masks made from wood and paintings on them, which signifies the tribal culture and Sikkim’s traditionalism. It follows the Thangka paintings of Sikkim that are considered apt to promote Buddhism and its philosophies. Lamp shades, lanterns and designer furniture from their specialties. The Choktse tables (foldable) are quite famous world over.

 The Government has taken various steps to promote the brand image for Indian Handicrafts in the world market. These include; organizing buyer-seller meet/seminars to create awareness about Indian Handicrafts, publicity measures such as release of advertisement in print media in US and Europe through Trade magazines, launching of website for providing authentic information on handmade carpets, participation in Fairs/Exhibition abroad, organizing Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair twice a year, organizing Thematic Exhibition etc. The Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (Trifed) is also branding tribal handicrafts, which it purchases from artisans and sells them through its outlets. It has around 16 regional offices in various parts of the country and buys 5,000 tribal products from about 50,000 artists registered with it. Trifed mainly deals with iron crafts, textiles, organic & herbal products, bamboo & cane products, tribal jewelry (including lac bangles), dokra and the like. This co-operative also plans training camps for tribal artisans in Jharkhand, Orissa and various other states. Planning Commission has also constituted a high-level committee to promote small scale industries and handicrafts in the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.

India’s rich cultural diversity and heritage provides a unique and huge resource for developing craft products. The Indian Handicraft Industry is showing continuous growth rate of 20% every year. The major parts of industry operates in rural and semi urban areas throughout the country and has potential Indian and International market with around 67000 exporters to tap the market. According to the national census of handicrafts, undertaken by the National Council for Applied Economic Research the value of handicrafts produced last year were of Rs.26,213 Crore. This Industry provides huge employment opportunities to artisans that include women and people belonging to backward and weaker society. This is one of the major sources of income there. The Indian Handicraft Industry is a $100 billion industry worldwide. It’s contribution in world market is nearly 1.2%( total exports of crafts items: - Rs. 13412.92 Crore) which is 1.15% of total exports of India but in spite of having diversified products, some part of Indian market are still untapped and market is price sensitive. The major exporting countries include U.S.A, Germany, Italy, U.K, France, Canada, Japan & Saudi Arabia.  In spite of all the measures adopted by the government there is still lack of awareness about new traditions among craftsmen and there is need of technological support and training so that more foreign exchange can be earned for the Indian economy.