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Celebrating forgotten crafts

Payal Mohanka hopes to bring alive the craftsmen’s lives, work

Glossy: The cover of the book by journalist Payal Mohanka

Homespun skills and native intelligence is all they have. Anomalies in a world that is increasingly dominated by mass-produced goods, wig-makers, light-makers, polo ball-makers, boat-makers and even shuttlecock-makers -- that still use their hands to manufacturer and have no marketing skills -- seem like they belong in history. But “In the Shadows Unknown Craftsmen of Bengal”, a book by journalist Payal Mohanka, is hoping to be able to bring their lives, their work and their struggles alive.

“When I worked for a news channel in Calcutta ten years ago, it was difficult to file a dynamic business story every week as there weren’t so many corporates then. There are villages in Bengal where the whole economy hinges on a craft. These stories worked well for television as they were visually appealing. But I told myself that I would come back one day to capture the fleeting images in a more tangible way,” says Payal.

Using the almost impossibly green background of Bengal, the book that has been published by Niyogi Books, captures these unusual livelihoods in big glossy pictures. From a sea of indigo blue jeans to snow-white feathers of the shuttle-cock manufactured in Jadurberia, 40 km from Kolkata, “In the Shadows Unknown Craftsmen of Bengal” celebrates crafts that have all but dropped off the map.

“Those living in the city didn’t know these villages existed. The book salutes the spirit of these people with homespun skills and native skills. The boat-makers of Balagarh to keep up with the times have started fitting the boats with engines for greater speed. The jeans-makers keep up with the different range from Mumbai,” she says.

Mandira Nayar

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