|
Metro Plus
A legacy crafted with commitment
|
Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay had a mission — to foster the crafts heritage of the country. At an exhibition on in the city, the Crafts Council of India reiterates her vision. PUSHPA CHARI writes... .
|
"A THING of beauty has no fear of time". So said the doyenne of the craft renaissance movement in India, Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay while describing the innate value of handcrafted objects. She was echoing a sentiment expressed in the Upanishad, which means "And shall not loneliness be loved forever... " Embodying in its essence the prerequisites of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram — that which is true in value and aspiration, that which is practical and utilitarian and that which is beautiful — India's arts and crafts tradition has come down many millennia, the threads of its incredible tapestry going back to Mohenjodaro and Harappa, to the sculptural brilliance of the Mauryan, Gupta, Chalukyan, Chola and Hoysala, embracing in its eclecticism Islamic concepts of aesthetics as well as the ethos of the classical, folk and tribal visions.
Yet, by the first half of the 20th Century, many of the traditional handicrafts began to face an identity crisis and survival became an issue in the face of machine-made goods, mill manufactured textiles and the onslaught of the plastic age. Changing lifestyles and attitudes engendered by a Colonial mindset contributed to the steep decline in both the quality and usage of handcrafted products.
More and more crafts began to languish and even disappear and by the time of Independence, the craft and textile scenario were in a state of total crisis. And this in the most beautiful treasure house of handcrafted skills found anywhere in the world, where devotional lyrics were addressed to the concept of creative beauty and where the `humble' potter is equated with Vishwakarma, the celestial potter...
To Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay's passionate belief in the artistic heritage and the philosophy behind it, we owe the great renaissance of the crafts in the post-Independence era as well as the resurgence of pride in all things Indian.
To her, every object, from clay pot to the most intricately woven carpet, signified the transformation of the merely functional into works of art imbued with the motto of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram, its shape, form and colour connected to the rhythm of the mood, season and the environment, and representative of something deeper than the merely visual.
As chairperson of the then newly constituted Handloom Board, Kamala Devi travelled to every nook and corner of the country, to document and identify the crafts. It was an amazing journey of discovery for her and her countrymen, laying as it did the very foundation of the post-Independence craft revival movement. Many friends, among them CCI chairperson Vijaya Rajan and member Sita Krishnan, who accompanied her, remember how they would travel in bullock carts to remote villages, live with the artisans, going into minute details of their skills, problems etc.
Kamala Devi forged friendships with craftspersons, involving them in Government sponsored training schemes, forming groups to create a sense of community and opening up new markets both through export, exhibitions, melas, etc. She focussed on improving the quality, in reviving the original glory and giving a `contemporary' look without tampering with the pristine purity of the various crafts. To this end, she worked tirelessly as chairperson of the Handloom Board, as India's unofficial and official ambassador at international fora and in her private capacity.
Kamala Devi's futuristic vision also included the formation of NGOs for crafts persons. Chennai based Crafts Council of India (CCI) of which she was the Founder Patron was formed in 1976. Today, CCI is a force to reckon with in international and national circles for its deep involvement in craft related issues and its unwavering commitment to the welfare of the artisans and weavers.
To honour the memory of Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay and her craft philosophy, CCI holds an annual exhibition called `Kamala'. `Kamala 2002' currently on in Chennai, showcases products "developed" by CCI and its 14 affiliated State councils working in tandem with traditional craft communities.
The accent is on quality and innovation to suit contemporary lifestyle and bring to light languishing crafts such as soft stone and granite stone carving, terracotta jewellery, silver filigree work, Banjara and Lambani embroidery, the tribal `burnt' wood work, Kilimangalam mat weaving and so on.
The products are a unique melange of excellence in craftsmanship and modern design.
The exhibits include an amazing range of avant garde granite vases, storage jars, plates and serving bowls. Finely polished yet showing off the grain in the stone surface, the granite stoneware are a match for Delhi Craft Council's Gaya stone plates, serving bowls and vases in black, brown and pink.
The terracotta items from the various State councils exhibit a blend of design excellence and the aesthetics of the medium. Working with terracotta craftspersons, Crafts Council of Karnataka has developed a range of pretty painted jewellery. Made from very soft processed clay, <147,1,0>the jewellery range, some of it copper etched, includes earrings, bracelets, rings and so on.
Among the rare items with innovative themes are `Sanjhi' paper cut trays, coasters and attractive `burnt wood' chimes, wall hangings, bowls, spoons, ladles, trays, lamps, mirror frames etc. The range of utility terracotta items developed by Delhi craftspersons includes flower pots and `kulhars'. Exquisitely designed Karimnagar silver filigree boxes, trays, paper clips and chopsticks compel attention at the Andhra stall. Also available are colourful vegetable dyed Etikopaka jars, vases, bowls etc. Equally colourful are Crafts Council of Tamil Nadu's `jamakalams'.
`Kamala 2002' offers eco-friendly interior solutions to Chennai in the form of vegetable dyed Kilimangalam reed mats, table mats and `pandi mats' put up by the Kerala State Council.
Also a range of Sitalpati mats and bags from West Bengal beckon attention. The Crafts Council of West Bengal has showcased fine examples of Kantha embroidered saris as well as utilitarian concepts in dhokrawork. The innovative dhokrawork products include boxes, storage jars, door handles and so on.
Especially stunning are jute embroidered table mats, shopping bags, bottle holders etc. Assam's golden cane culture too casts its glow on the exhibition with a range of exquisite baskets.
In a many hues, and combined with wrought iron, the cane baskets, bowls, bags and hand bags are a tribute to the State's basket weaving skills. Crafts Council of Assam has also worked with wrought iron craftspersons to develop a range of side tables, pot holders etc.
Assam's woven textiles are also on display along with Crafts Council of Rajasthan's block printed textiles and blue pottery, as well as innovative items developed by Maharashtra Crafts Council .
The `Kamala 2002' exhibition is on at Guild of Service, 28, Casa Major Road, Egmore, Chennai, till February 6.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
|
