HANDICRAFTS IN INDIA

India is a country with rich cultural heritage. The marvelous arts and crafts are very unique features
depicting the ancient artistic traditions of the people. As a country with multiple ethnicities, religions and
cultures, India has a variety of crafts reflecting its history and civilization as well.

Every state in India has a rich tradition, art and handicrafts that portray the legacy of regional culture.

Handicrafts represent a regions traditional art and heritage that are reflected in the form of colourful crafts
and artworks. They showcase the legacy of customary crafts skills and creativity of the artisans.

India‟s rich human resources are the backbone of every industrial sector including handicraft industries.
Handicrafts industries are economically labour intensive and at the same time they nurture the inherent
skills of the artisans.

Indian handicraft industries are a major contributor to India‟s export revenue. The US and Europe together
account for over 65% of the Indian handicraft exports. Abundant labour low capital investment and
uniqueness of the artworks are the characteristics of Indian handicrafts. These provide a competitive edge
in terms of prices and products with distinct attraction.

Handicrafts constitute a distinctive segment of the decentralized sector of Indian economy. It provides
employment to more than six million artisans - roughly one fifth of the total working force in household
and industrial sector of the country. India's handicrafts are almost inexhaustible and their variety is infinite.

The handicraft industries in India are very much diversified with a lot of varieties and products. These are
also distributed over several places of the country. The Indian handicraft industries are concentrated in the
rural, semi-urban and suburban areas of many states and union territories. While studying the Geography of
India, it is also essential to understand the distribution of Handicraft Industry in the country. The major
objectives of studying this lesson are to know about the

1. Handlooms and textiles

2. Metal works and Jewellery
3. Woodcraft and paper work
4. Pottery and stone work
5. Leather and jute handicrafts

I. Handloom and Textiles

Indian handlooms are one of the world‟s most ancient craft works. Distinctive styles of weaving have been
practiced in different parts of the country. The handloom products and their styles have regional,
environmental and cultural influences. This sector involves handlooms, textiles, fabric printing and
embroidery works.

The Handloom and textiles sector in India produce a large number of unique products. They are:
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 Carpets and rugs
Cushion covers
Bed spreads
Table spreads
Kurti dresses
Appliqués
Silk sarees
Shawls and apparels
Curtain cloths
Tie and dye works

Some of the handloom products have block impressions, block printings and batik printings.

The rich gold brocade saris of Varanasi, the silks of Mysore, Kanchipuram, Murshidabad and Kashmir, the
cotton saris of Bengal, the famous chanderies and maheswaris of Madhya Pradesh, patolas of Gujarat and
Orissa are well known, examples of Indian Textile products.

Manipur, Assam and Tripura produce textiles with strong near-geometric motifs. The art of hand printing
has been practiced in India from time immemorial. The dyeing and printing belt in India extends from the
interior of Rajasthan through Kutchchh, Kathiawar to the borders of Gujarat. Further south, colors become
darker and more subdued till at last they seem to quench themselves in the lush green vegetation of the
backwaters of Malabar. The hand printed textiles exported from the country consist mainly of bed sheets,
bed spreads, drapery, saris, scarves, ties, dress materials, and ready-made garments.

EMBROIDERIES

The art of decoration of textile fabric with threads, wires and leather using needles is known as embroidery.
The embroidery works of Indian costumes and dresses are the world‟s most attractive features of dresses
normally worn by women and children. They are not only rich in their artworks but also look very elegant
and royal. Millions of women have been practicing this art for several hundred years. Embroidery works
are very unique though decorative in the textile and handloom industries.

Phulkari embroidery of Punjab.

Kantha embroidery of West Bengal.
Samrashtra & Kuchemb of Gujarat/Cheamba Rumal embroidery work of Himachal Pradesh.
Chikan embroidery of Lucknow. Ari embroidery of Tamil Nadu.
Applique & Patch work of Orissa.
Kasuti embroidery of Karnataka
Mathurias embroidery works of Andhra Pradesh
Sujni Kantha embroidery of Bihar
Pattu embroidery f Rajasthan
Toda Tribal Embroidery of Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
Lace and crochet embroidery of Gujarat are the famous artworks in this sector.

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The Embroidery works of states like

Manipur
Mizoram
Kerala
Haryana
Maharashtra
Jammu & Kashmir are also very notable artworks in India.

Indian Carpet are very important products of the handicraft industry. Carpet weaving started in India
around 1580 A.D. It was Akbar, the Mughal emperor, who brought some Persian carpet weavers to India.
These crafts are the offshoots of Persian designs. The carpets in India, have gradually taken a new
dimension and an indigenous pattern. Kashmir is known for its very fine quality carpets. Amritsar, Agra
and Jaipur also produce attracting carpets. Mirzapur-Bhadohi belt in Uttar Pradesh is famous for carpet
weaving. In the Himalayan tract, right from Leh (Ladakh) to Darjeeling (West Bengal), Gangtok (Sikkim),
Imphal (Manipur) Bomdila and other centres in Arunachal Pradesh, very distinctive styles of carpet-
weaving prevail.In addition to these, cushion covers, bedspreads and shawls are made with unique designs
and durable materials, in India.

II. Jewellery and Metal Crafts:

Jewellery has been a form of beautifying oneself and as a sort of personal adornment. Men and women all
over the world prefer wearing jewels with gemstones, pearls, and shells.

Jewelries have been treated as symbols of status, appreciation and beauty.

Even in modern culture, people wear nose rings, ear studs and piercing rings for self decoration.

Jewellery in India comes in a variety of forms, designs, colors, shapes, sizes and shades. Ornaments are
considered valuable properties of people in India, besides being the signs of auspiciousness.

Pearls, diamond, silver and gold jewelries are the attractive ones inspite of their high costs. Fashion
Jewellery and accessories, imitation jewelries and gem cutting are the famous categories existing in the
Indian markets.

Gems and jewellery work engage more than five lakh artisans spread over the country. Kashmiri goldsmiths
produce beautiful bracelets, earrings, necklaces and bangles of silver and gold studded with stones. In
Punjab, Kamal is known for silver beads, Ambala for chiselled silver bracelets, and Hoshiarpur for nose
rings. Enamelled ornaments are made in Kangra. Panipat is famous for silver necklaces. In Rajasthan,
important centres of silver jewellery are Sahapura, Soni, Pakrojji, Jaipur and Jodhpur. Rajkot, Paddhari,
Bhuj and Jamnagar of Gujarat are famous for gold and silver jewellery. In Maharashtra, goldsmiths of
Ahmednagar are extraordinarily proficient in jewellery. The city of Mumbai produces fine quality
ornaments of traditional as well as of contemporary designs. In West Bengal, carving, chasing .and
embossing in gold, silver and copper are done with proficiency. Shell bracelet of Bankura is an example of
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fine craftsmanship. Craftsmen of Cuttack, Orissa, have attained supremacy in filigree work on silver. In the
south the forms of jewellery are usually traditional. Jewelries have always been an integral part of human
life.

Metal Craft in India:

Indian metal works include a wide variety of art works. Metal Art Work collections are used for interior
decorations in living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms of houses, mansions and hotels. The metal works
are made in the form of sculptures, design metal wares, antique metal wares, metal chowkis, stool, vase,
candle holders, deities, idols, pots and metal trays. Metal bells, shoe racks, curtain holders, clocks, lamps
and table top metal collections, to mention a few. Urban homes and offices in India use a lot of metal
furniture as tables, chairs and office racks. Metal Garden furniture are yet another categories of metal
works.

About two lakh artisans are employed in the art of manufacturing of metal ware with an estimated annual
production of about Rs 150 crores. In ancient times, the metal alloy used for casting icons was a mixture of
either eight metals, like gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, tin, iron and mercury or five metals called
panchaloha, which includes copper, brass, lead, silver and gold. Nowadays, due to high cost, the addition
of silver and gold has been eliminated from decorative sculpture. To revive the traditional skills of cast
bronze crafts, a pilot centre was set up in 1958 at Bangalore by the All India Handicrafts Board. The brass
bell metal work by the tribals of eastern and central India has gained much appreciation in the domestic
and international markets. The Bidri art work is yet another contribution in India. It is the inlaying of gold
and silver on steel and copper which is practiced in Bidar of Karnataka and Hyderabad of Andhra Pradesh.

Ancient Jewellery was made from animal teeth, bones, shells, ivory, carved stones and wood. Metallic
Jewellery is one of the oldest artworks in India. Jewellery in the 17th century witnessed the use of glass.

By the 18th century semi precious Jewellery came into existence.

The Jewellery of Rajasthan is oriented much on Silver ornaments.

The Jewellery of Gujarat consists of Agate, silver and bead.

The Jewellery of Meghalaya is predominantly made of gold and coral bead necklaces.

The Jewellery of Delhi comprises Silverware, gold & Gem stone.

The Jewellery of West Bengal is oriented much on Gold, precious stones, silver, brass & Zinc alloys.

Himachal, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya
Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Tripura, Orissa & Kerala, are the states
much involved in the making of Jewellery in India. In a way, the whole of India is involved in producing
jewellery that is pride of the nation.

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These jewellery industries also make

Neck Chains
Hairpins
Toe rings
Finger rings
Ear rings
Nose rings
Necklace
Bracelets and
Bangles

Tribal Jewellery also has a pride of place in India. These are part of the tribal costumes. Tribal people make
handmade jewels. As they are inseparable from nature they make jewels out of bead shells and seeds of
plants.

Gypsy necklace & moti necklace are very well-known and are valuable contribution to the stock of
Indian Jewellery.

Pendants
Metal brooches
Wedding rings
Anklet & belly rings are famous items of this industry.

Indian Jewellery industry is much diversified today. It has grown into various branches. The notable
branches are:

a) beaded Jewellery
b) terracotta Jewellery
c) tribal Jewellery
d) sandalwood Jewellery
e) shell Jewellery
f) pearl Jewellery
g) diamond Jewellery
h) silver Jewellery
i) gold Jewellery and
j) platinum Jewellery

III Wood and paper works:

Wood is the earliest material used for making furniture after the stone age. Wood has been extensively
used in all human civilizations for making handcrafted furniture. It was also used for making musical
instruments, sculptures, decorative sets, gift items, boxes, toys, dolls, idols, and construction of boats and
bridges. In every home, the windows and doors are mostly made of wood. Bamboo is yet another material
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used in making several handcrafted furniture and decorative items.

There are a number of techniques used in wood works viz. carving of architectural forms, furniture, inlay
work, jali or fret work, lacquered work and so on. Like other crafts, wood work also has undergone
substantial changes For ornamental work walnut of Kashmir and sandalwood of Karnataka are well known.
Kashmir, Hoshiarpur Saharanpur, Gujarat and Goa are famous for woodcraft.

Ivory Carving

Quite a few centres in the western coast of India, Murshidabad of West Bengal, Varanasi and Lucknow of
Uttar Pradesh are known for the ivory carving works, in India.

Cane, Bamboo, Grass and Leaves are the raw materials used in wood handicrafts.

In the hilly tracts of Tripura, the jungles of northeastern hills, the Nilgiris, the uplands of Kerala or in the
interiors of Orissa, the inhabitants preserve their tradition of basket making. Mat weaving also is a very
ancient and wide spread handicraft in India. Furniture made of cane, bamboo and other materials have
made considerable progress in' the states of northeastern India and Andaman islands.

Handicrafts industries in India are also including.

Paper works:

Paper is a basic necessity in all walks of life. Right from newsprint papers to currency notes, paper is used
extensively by the human population. Printing of textbooks, binding of notebooks, greeting cards, covers
and several other products use papers and boards. Handmade papers are used for many of these purposes.
Without paper, both personal and official life of people cannot progress. They are also used for making
lampshades, puppets and hand-fans. Coffee/Tea cups, are made of paper. Soft drinks are also served in
paper cups. Today, paper has become an integral part of human life and civilization.

IV Pottery & Stone works:

The art of shaping and making clay articles is known as pottery. Pottery is one of the oldest and ancient
aspects in human civilization. There are numerous references in the Vedas on artisans involved in pottery
making. The Rig Veda also refers to a variety of pottery made from clay, wood and metal. The Indus
Valley pottery was considered to be the most attractive and decorative one. Handmade and wheel thrown
potteries are famous in all parts of India. Naturally occurring clay was extensively used for pottery making
due to its unique properties. Storage of water and grain are done in pots even today especially in the rural
areas.

Earthenware and porcelain pottery have become a sophisticated art forms even today. Ashtrays, flower-
vases, tea cups, paper weights and decorative animal figurines are created by these artisans, using clay.

India is one of the countries where terracotta designs and terracotta products are used very widely in
different places. The clay and terracotta works of West Bengal, Haryana, Goa, Rajasthan, Himachal
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Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand, Orissa, Gujarat and Delhi are the
famous for terracotta products which are in demand. These terracotta products are graded and sold
according to their color, strength and water absorption capacity. The glazed ceramics of Tamil Nadu and
Pondicherry, the Longpi Coiled Pottery of Manipur, the glazed pottery of Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, the
painted terracotta of Gujarat, Black pottery of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, the glazed pottery of Chinhat,
Uttar Pradesh, the blue pottery of Delhi are the world famous products made from India. The pottery and
terracotta products of Karnataka are yet two more products made by using the red clay of Karnataka.

The terracotta roof tiles of Orissa are made predominantly in the Sambalpur district of the State. These
products are made partially by hand and partially on wheels. This is a unique product made by using black
and red clays mixed together.

Stone works:

Sculpturing and stone crafts are the traditional ancient arts. Sculpture in India is as old as civilization itself.
Sculpturing has evolved over several ages and stages. They are also branded based ont heir ages as:

a) Indus valley sculptures

b) Gupta Age of Sculptures
c) Medieval age of sculptures and
d) Modern age of Sculptures

Teachings of Lord Buddha were the main theme for sculptures during 3rd century B.C. Stupas and Pillars
were built during Mauryan and Kushana Empires. The Ashoka Pillar, Sanchi Stupa and Bodhi Tree of
Barhut are famous sculptures of the earliest period. The classical period of Art was the 14th Century.
Mathura and Gandhara Schools of Art are the evidences. Statues of gods and Goddesses were sculpted
from stones and sandstones.

During the Medieval age, sculptures became more ornamented rather than pious and simplistic forms.
Palaces, temples and monuments were built during the medieval period with sculptures. During the British
Era, Indian sculpture got the first taste of Western styles like pseudo-realism, minimalism and abstract
expressionism, in the architectural expressions.

In addition, marble sculptures, marble idols, gemstone paintings, stone paintings, rock carvings terracotta
Art works and shell handicrafts flourished during the recent century.

V. Leather and jute handicrafts:

Leather is a material which is liked by many people for its excellent characteristics. Leather was used for
covering the body parts of people in cold regions. It is widely used to make footwear, bags, beets, cloths
and many home accessories. Leather tanning was one of the oldest human activities during the Indus
Valley civilization. Indian leather is a famous product of export, even today. Leather crafts are made from
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi.

Kolapuri leather sandals are famous products in India. Designer leather goods, toys and dolls, bags
and
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boxes and artistic leather goods are very attractive products made under leather handicrafts.

Leather tanning industries are distributed in the states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab
and Delhi. Leather items are manufactured from these places by using both traditional and modern
techniques. Some of them are vegetable-tanned leather, alum-tanned leather, raw-hide leather, chrome
tanned leather. Some better known leather types are: Full-grain leather, corrected-grain leather, and Suede.
While some lesser-known types are buckskinned or brained leather, patent leather, vachetta leather,
shagreen leather, belting leather and napa leather.

JUTE

India, Bangladesh and China are the most popular countries for Jute in the world. Jute craft is most popular
in these countries. The warm humid climate of West Bengal enriched with good rainfall is the most
suitable condition for the growth of Jute, in India.

Jute in India is treated as the “Golden Fibre” for making bags and handicrafts. Jute handicrafts are made in
rural and tribal areas. Jute is highly durable and renewable. It has high tensile strength. It is also
biodegradable. Jute can withstand any rough use. It blends easily with any casual wear. The elegant getup
of jute ads to the costume of the user. Since, it is a natural fibre, it doesn‟t require any dying materials or
coloring agents and use any chemicals. Over a period of time the usage of jute has increased in several
industries and used as a raw material into many spheres of artistic activities.

India is the single largest producer of jute in the world accounting for about 35% of the world production.
Jute is not only the major textile fibre but also a raw material for non-traditional products helping for
environmental protection. The Government of India also offers protection to the jute industry under the
„Jute Packing and Materials Act‟ (JPMA) requiring food grains and sugar to be packed in jute bags in
India. Indian jute products a have got tremendous potential in overseas market especially in the countries
like the USA, the UK, South Africa and Belgium. About 25% of India‟s production of Jute goes to these
countries. Jute products are comparatively cheap, eco-friendly and used for multi modal applications.

Jute crafts include making of bags, rags, carpets, hangings, footwear, coasters, Jewellery, show pieces and
baskets, for domestic use.

The handicraft industry in India has the history of several century. The industry support during British rule.
After attaining independence the national government began to take steps to revitalize the handicraft
industry .It set up all India and state organization for the development of the industry. The crop sector is
next to agriculture and sustains over 20 million practitioner .The wide geographic spread embraces all of
India and covers the huge gamut of widely differing work structure and cultures. Crops community using
similar materials at range from clay to precious metal work with widely differing technique and
technologies to create rich variety of forms.