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 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.