HISTORY OF INDIAN HANDICRAFTS

The rich history of India’s craft tradition has evolved over the centuries offering a legacy of Indian culture promising everything - beauty, dignity, form and style. The variety is comprehensive and ranges from age-old stone carvings to modern handicrafts. The most popular crafts, include wooden furniture, metal ware, earthenware, pottery, sculpting, woodwork, hand-printed textiles and scarves, embroidered and crocheted goods, shawls, zari products, stone carving and imitation jewelry.

 

There is a myriad of art and craft traditions in India that depend on social, economic and regional factors. The present status of the sector in India owes much to the rich crafts history and tradition of the past. Majority of the crafts from the past continues to flourish due to their utilitarian characteristics and popularity in domestic and global markets.
 

The present day handicraft tradition of India is a perfect example of assimilation between the traditional designs and modern techniques. The fast growing demand for Indian handicraft and gifts products have made this sector a full-fledged large scale organized industry that is growing day by day.

Today, some of the sectors within the craft industry have even become full fledged industries in their own, like - wooden furniture, carpet weaving, traditional textile, gem cutting and polishing, jewelry making, the world famous diamond cutting and polishing industry, brassware, jute products, etc. The growth of these industries is due to their ever-increasing demand and the popularity of Indian crafts in the domestic market and overseas.

 

The items, which account for a major share of export turnover, include - wooden furniture , metalware, hand-printed textiles, hand-knotted and embroidered textiles, leather goods, stoneware, paintings and sculpture, jewelry.

With 30 states, 18 languages and more than 1500 dialects, the country offers an enormous range of handicrafts from different states and regions. Major production centers are, The Western Rajasthan, jodhpur is known for its traditional wooden furniture and wrought iron furniture, Jaipur for quilts, printed textiles from Bagru and Sanganer. The coastal state of Gujarat offers famous embroidered articles from Kutch. Uttar Pradesh - Moradabad also known as the "Peetalnagari" (City of Brass), Saharanpur for its wooden articles, Ferozabad for Glass. Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh is known for its Lace and Lace goods. But all this is only a small portion of total product range. The country offers much more.

 

The dynamism of handicrafts industry in India is unparalleled - be it the traditional Indian arts and crafts or a customized version of an overseas art form. Unlike in the past when the industry was battling to carve a niche in the market, there is a great demand for Indian handicrafts today that is being nurtured by different government and non-governmental organizations.
 

The industrial revolution and the increasing productivity had slowed down the growth and the quality of arts and crafts, but for some decades now, the scenario has changed and machine-made products no longer attract the people. Presently handicrafts are being considered as vocational media and it is also opted for style statement and the leisure pursuit. Today, the crafts and craftspeople have a vital role to play in modern India – not just as part of its cultural and tradition, but as part of its economic future.