Book “India’s Creative Continuum – Minority Communities in Craft” Released by Shri Jitendra Singh
Book “India’s Creative
Continuum – Minority Communities in Craft” Released by Shri Jitendra Singh
The Book Documents 18 Identified Crafts from various States
Ministry is trying to reach Real Usttads and to Develop A Value Chain to Support Master Craftsmen says Dr. Najma Heptulla
Benefits of Schemes being taken directly to Minorities-Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
The Book Documents 18 Identified Crafts from various States
Ministry is trying to reach Real Usttads and to Develop A Value Chain to Support Master Craftsmen says Dr. Najma Heptulla
Benefits of Schemes being taken directly to Minorities-Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
The book on crafts “India’s Creative Continuum-Minority Communities in Craft”,
was released here this evening by Dr.Jitendra Singh, the Minister of
State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO,
Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space in
presence of Dr. Najma Heptulla, the Minister for Minority Affairs and
her Minister of State Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. The
book was released at ongoing two day Exhibition-Cum-Sale “Jashn –
E – Usttad’ showcasing the crafts documented in it.
Speaking on
the occasion Dr Najma Heptulla said today’s programme, Jashn-e-USTTAD
celebrates the traditional skills of minority craftsmen practicing 18
identified crafts from various States, and provides them a platform to
showcase their traditional skills and market their products through
Exhibition-cum-sale. This event is second in a row. First one was organized at Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh in May 2015 where the scheme was launched. She said the Ministry
is trying to reach real USTTADs. To succeed in its endeavour, Ministry
will take help of expert Knowledge Partners like National Institute of Fashion
Technology, National Institute of Design, Indian Institute of Crafts
and Design, ACCESS Development Services, Export Promotion Councils etc.
Through USTTAD,
the Government makes an endeavour to develop a value chain and support the
Master Craftsmen to come closer to the National and International market and
earn better livelihood. The effort may bring them out of the vicious circle of
poverty and feel proud of their skills. A logo of the scheme created in Bidri work
was also presented on the occasion.
Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi,
the Minister of State for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs said the
Government has taken several steps for over-all development of underprivileged,
poor sections including Minorities. “USTTAD” scheme is one of the important
measures taken for welfare of the minorities’ especially Muslim community.
“USTTAD” scheme will be helpful in providing a platform to publicize and
showcase traditional skills, arts and crafts of Minority communities. This
initiative will provide a broad market for arts and crafts of minorities. He
said that the programmes meant for welfare of Minorities, started during
last about 16 months, are now yielding results. We want to provide benefits of
these schemes directly to Minorities.
Releasing the book Dr. Jitendra Singh said
that the Central Government’s commitment is to empower minorities with dignity
and not just empowering minorities to the extent that this feeling of minority
majority is dissolved in the process of development. He said the focus of the Government
is to create employability and employment simultaneously. The documentation of
Traditional arts/crafts of minorities and promoting the masters of the crafts
will help in preserving, protecting and promoting the rich and
diverse cultural heritage of India.
This Book compiles
the details of 18 identified crafts and their standards. The range and
diversity of crafts in various media from stone to wood, to metal to cloth, and
technique from weaving to print and from painting to inlay is covered across
the 18 crafts that feature in this volume. This document represents the entire
length and breadth of geography of our country and different minority
communities. The documentation is one of its kind which would
certainly help in preservation of the crafts, further design development and
research. The documented crafts are-
1.
Brassware from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh
2. Chikankari from Lucknow in
Uttar Pradesh
3.
Brocades of Banaras from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh
4.
Glassware form Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh
5.
Hand Knotted Carpets form Bhadoi-Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh
6.
Marble Carving and Inlay from Agra in Uttar Pradesh
7. Papier Mache
from Jammu & Kashmir
8. Thangka Painting
from Himachal Pradesh
9. Phulkari from
Punjab
10. Lehariya from Jaipur in
Rajasthan
11. Ajrakh from Dhamadka in
Gujarat
12. Parsi Embroidery from
Gujarat
13. Patola from Patan in
Gujarat
14. Roghan Painting
from Kutch in Gujarat
15.
Black Printing of Bagh from Bagh in Madhya Pradesh
16. Maheshwari from Maheshwar in
Madhya Pradesh
17.
Loin Loom Weaving from North East India
18. Bidriware from Bidar in
Karnataka
USTTAD (Upgrading
the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/ Crafts for Development) is one of
the ambitious programmes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The scheme
“USTTAD” formulated keeping commitments of the Government for minorities to
augment traditional skills and link them with market for better livelihood.
Preservation of the traditional skills and arts/crafts of minorities of
India is also an integral part of “Skilled India Mission”, which is the dream
mission of the Prime Minister.
The scheme aims at capacity building and updating the
traditional skills of master craftsmen and artisans. It will also set standards
for traditional skills. The trained master craftsmen/artisan will train the
minority youths in various specific traditional arts/crafts.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs will take up this
programme for all important traditional arts/crafts being practiced by minority
communities, for their development and market linkages. Documentation of
Traditional arts/crafts of minorities has also been envisaged.
Minority communities of India are known across the world
for their traditional skills and crafts. There is a long list of arts and
crafts which are practiced by minority communities of India. Traditional
arts and crafts are part of India’s National Heritage. They have been handed
down through ages, from generation to generation, nurtured and sustained by the
sheer love and passion of those associated with them through centuries. The
arts and crafts of India represent the rich fusion of cultural diversity.
Since India has remained connected for trade and other reasons with
entire world since ages, the impact of many countries, particularly Central
Asia, can also be seen in the arts and crafts of India.
To identify real
master craftsmen, the Ministry is trying to document the crafts being practiced
by minority communities. The book on crafts “India’s Creative
Continuum-Minority Communities in Craft”, released today is the first such
attempt. This Book compiles the details of 18 identified crafts and their
standards. There would be many more such documentations with the help of
Knowledge Partners.
Ministry has also
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with E-Commerce portal www.Shopclues.com to
support the minority craftsmen and develop their National and International
market. This is for the first time that the Government is making endeavour to
provide an e-platform to the craftsmen to showcase their traditional skills to
the world.
These efforts
would help in preservation of traditional knowledge of the country, enable the
craftsmen to earn better livelihood and bring dignity of labour to the sector.
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