CENSUS OF INDIA 1981 SERIES-23 WEST BENGAL PART X D
HANDICRAFT SURVEY REPORT MASLAND MAT
Investigation And Draft : Dipankar Sen
Editing And Guidance: Sukumar Sinha
HANDICRAFT SURVEY REPORT MASLAND MAT
FOREWORD
The Indian handicrafts are known the world over for their rich variety~ grace, elegance and skilled craftmanship. Nevertheless, a number of handicrafts because of their stiffcompetition with factory made productl', non~availability of raw mate rials, exhorbitant increase in the manufacturing cost, lack of proper marketing faci lities for finished products or due to a variety of other reasons have either become extinct or have reached the moribund stage. After independence, however, a number of schemes were introduced by different government agencies for their growth and development but still this sudden impetus have helped only a few crafts to flourish and thereby become spinners of foreign exchange for the country. Despite the unique position being enjoyed by the handicrafts especially in the realm of national economy, the general awareness among the people in the country about our crafts and craftsmen had been deplorably poor. Nothing was practically known a bout the commodities produced, techniques employed for the manufacture of different objects, raw materials used, their availability, methods adopted for the sale of finished products etc. An attempt was therefore made in connection with the 1961 Census to study about 150 crafts from different parts of the country with a view to provide basic infolmation on those crafts which were selected for the study. At the 1971 Census, the study on handicrafts was not taken up but thi& was apain revived in connection with the 1981 Census. There has been, however, SOlTI_e diffe rence between the studies taken up in connection with the Censuses of 1961 and 1981. Woile the 1961 studies have covered both rural and urban crafts, the 1981 studies have focussed their attention on1y on traditional rural based crafts. That apart, the 1981 studies besides touching upon those aspects which were covered under the 1961 series, have laid emphasis on matters that are vital for the revival of rural crafts and thereby for the rejuvenation of the economy ot the region particu1arly the villages. This is in consonance 'With the poUcy of the government to give due importance to the rural sector with focus on employment intensive strategy of development in which next to agriculture, the small scale indu&trie~ and handicrafts playa significant role. The formats required for undertaking the study were formulated by Dr. K.P. Ittaman under the able guidance of Dr. N.G. Nag, the then Deputy Registrar General, Social Studies Division. Dr. Ittaman who succeeded Dr. Nag as Deputy Registrar General, Social Studies Division co-ordinated the study undertaken in different States/ Union Territories by the Direc10rates of Census Operations. The reports received from the Directorates were examined by Shri M.K. Jain, Senior Research Officer with the help of Smt. Suman Prashar, Assistant Director of Census Operations. I am grateful to all of them for organising this study. ' The present report is the out come ofa study undertaken on M asland Mat by the Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. I have immense pleasure in ack~ nowledging the services rendered by Shri Sukumar Sinha, Joint Director and his col leagues in the Census Directorate for bringing out this publication.
New Delhi, v. S.VERMA The 1st June, 1988 Registrar General, India ( I Assistance in Investigation Sri Sanat Kumar Saha and Tabulation : Assistant Compiler
Preparation of Map Sri Subir Kumar Chatterjee Draftsman
PhotograpJry Sri Manas Kumar Mitra Computor II'_' PREFACE
The craft of mat-weaving from grass, reeds, cane, leaves of palm and date-palm trees is perhaps one of the oldest and finest traditional arts of India. Along with basketry, mat-weaving is widely practised in many States in India and also in Wesll Bengal. That mats were used in olden times is supported by historical references. Kata denotes a mat made of reeds (Vaitasa) and the maker of mats from reeds (Vidala-Kari) is mentioned in the Vajasaneyi Samhita and the process of splitting reeds for the purpose is referred to in the Atharva Veda I ; Kasipu also denotes a mat or cushion made, according to the Atharva Veda (VI. 138,5), by women from 2 reeds (nada) which they crushed for the purpose by means of stones • On the other hand, the Satapatha Brahmana (XIII, 4, 3, 1) refers to a mat made of gold3 •
In fact, 'braiding and interlacing' are two of the oldest handicrafts known to man. The different stages of their development...... lead from the simple joining of palm leaves, bast strings and grass blades to the final development of the loom and the multi-textured materials the looms produce4 • At a tilne when the use of tools was Vi!ry lilnited, man preferred to produce grass mat by joining grass into regular patterns which process did not require the aid of tools5 •
The use of grass mats in the Vedic period and in the epics has been discussed briefly in the Monograph itsel[ Mats at present are used in India as covers for the floor (as substitute for woollen carpets) decorations for the wans, table-covers, bed-spreads and prayer-mats. In West Bengal the mat-industry flourished under the patronage of the Muslim rulers when mats of fine quality with yarns of silk as warp were prized for their artistic designs, excellent craft~manship and perfect evenness of plaiting. The district of Mr dinipur had become pre-eminent for the production of fine mats. More than hundered years back Maslandpur, a village in the Maslandpur thana of the Tamluk sub-division situated near the Hijli Tidal Canal (northern section) close to Mahishadal was noted for its fine mats, some of 6 which were sold for more than Rs. 100/-each • As early as 1911 mat-making was carried on extensively in the south of the district especially S?Jbong7 .The industry in the Sabong and Panskura thanas employed about 1000 workers and their pro.. ducts are said to fectch Rs. 1000/ to Rs. 2000/ . on each hat dc.y at each of the four 8 9 recognised local markets • The number of mats manufactured in 1907-08 was 448300 • The production of Masland mats of Medinipur is now restricted to very few craft centres and the finest masland mats of legendary fame aTe not produc~d now. They were luxury crafts, made for the consumption of the old Rajahs and Zemindars and one Midnapore masland mat could sell from Rs. 100. to Rs. 1000 about 100 years ago. Today that would alnount to Rs. 1000 to Rs. 10,000 for a single mat. The ------1 Ved ic Index of Names and subjects by-A.A. Macdonell and A.B. Ke ith, London,-1912,-pp. 133. 2 Ibid. 133. 3 Ibid. 4 'Kora grass Mats'-in 'Se lected crafts of Kerala' by M.K. Devassy, Census of India, 1961, Vol. VII, Part VIlA, pp. 143. 5 Ibid. 6 A Statistical Account of Bengal, Midnapur and Hooghly by W.W. Hunter, Vol. III, London 1875, ))p. 46. 7 Bengal District Gazetteer-Midnapore by L.S.S.O' Maller, Calcutta, 1911, pp. 54~, 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid.
(ix) (x) rich upper cl()~s s of modern s o c iety ~ who can afford to spend the amount, would not like to do so for a mat because that does not constitute an essential iteln in the paraphernalia of modern steel-tube-tapestry aristocracy. It is said that the finest kind of Midnapore masland . ... was so slTIooth that a snake could not run over it anq it could be easily folded into a coat procket_'Io. There are 'big rolls of old mats in Mahishadal, Narajol arid other r'ajbaris in Midnapore ' disiric't, lnOre than one hundred yards long, on which two to'three hundred persons could sit quite ,d:nufor tably on ceremonial occasions. Ceremonies' are' still there~ but the custom bf prQvid riig seats or mats has changed. Such mats are therefore no longer made and the 'Craftsmen who could make these Inats have also vanithed.' II '
Even though the craft now call~not boast of products to be iiribued with the IDi gic touch of its past excellence, the artisans are still carrying on tne' tradit16hS of their forebears who had once 'furnished the palaces and mansions of feudal lordS arid royal dyn3sts with tIie finest rolls of masland mats. It is iinportant therefore to scrible down whatever can be known about the craft and the craftsmen before they are 16st· in the annals of history. 11 The prec;ent monograph is the second in the series of the Rural Craft Survey Reports as part of the 1981 Census progranune, the scheme having been enunciated in details by Sri V. S. Verma, Registrar General, India, in his Foreword. The investi gation.in the field was conducted in 1987~88 by Sri Dipankar Sen, Investigator with the help of , qu~ stionnaires and schedules. . Sri Sen was assisted in the fielp. by Sri Sanat Kumar Saha, Assistant Compiler, Pllblished books and journals, group, discussions. and participant observation supplemented the coD;tprehensive st_udyof tl1~ craft,. cO~lducted with an eye on qbjectivity. Yet, subjectjvely crept in at, tiJnes but never divorcing the analysis from moorings o( reality. Involuntary O1nis~ions.' if any, may be forgiven as human aberations. Opinions' here or elsewhp!e are personal, representing neithes the policies nor the views of the State or Central Government.
l ' ,
JII. , ,- The succes~ of any study of the present kind depend~ very l~rgely on the response from and cooperation of the practising and non-practising craftsmen in the c,r",ft Gentres. l thank thClTI all for their cooperation and assistance. But, recall with a s¥1\se of gratitude the help extended to uS by Sri Babulal Jana of Sartta, Sarbasree Dharanidhar Jana and Bishnu Pada ~a nna of Talda, Sa,rbasree Swapan, !<-umar G)r,~ al1,d Haren Pn~dh~n , ofKhol£iberya, Sri R.N. Ghosh, Distriot Indus.trial Officer, M~dinipur and Sri Gourhari Mal1dal of Baruipur. Sri V.S. Verm a, Registrar General, India, was kind enough to oversee the expeditions completion of the report by his inspiring captaincy. I gratefully recall his leaders.hip. Dr. N.G. Nag, former Deputy Registrar General, India, Dr. K.P. Ittaman, the present Deputy Registrar G eneral, India, Sri. M.K. Jain, Senior Research Offie:er and Smt . Suman Prashar, Assistant Director in the Social Studies Division of the Office of the Registrar General, India had taken care of the technical quality of the study and helped us with useful suggestions and invaluable advice. I thank all of them.
10 'Some Traditional Folk Arts of Bengal and Social-Change 'by Benoy Ghosh published in Art in Industry, Vol. VIII, No.3, Calcutta, 1967, pp. 4. 11 Ibid, (xi) Dr. B.K. Roy, Deputy Registrar General, India, Map Division earned our gratitude for the technical scrutiny of the map include(1 in the monograph. Sri A.K. Dutta, Deputy Director of Census Operations,West Bengal, offered us his comments and suggestions to improve upon the quality of the report. I am grateful to him. Sri Dipankar Sen, Investigator with his dedication, interest and experience had done a praiseworthy job indeed in accomplishing the present task. Sri Sen had been ably supported in the field work by Sri Sanat Kumar Saha, Assistant Compiler who had also prepared the tables. Sri Manas Kumar Mitra, Computor had under taken the photographic work and Sri Subir Kumar Chatterjee, Draftsman the carto graphic work. Sri Swapan Kumar Guha, Investigator provided us with published data and Smt. Namira Roy, Librarian rendered bibliographic assistance. Sri Sunil Kumar Patra, Lower Division Clerk, had meticulously type-copied, manu script. Sarbasree Dilip Kumar Chatterjee and Mrityunjoy Karmakar, Typists also assisted us in typing. Smt. Dipti Rudra, Senior Stenographer and Sri Dilip Banerjee, Stenographer also rendered assistance. Sri Hinlangshu Saha Chowdhury, Printing Inspector press-edited the manuscript and Sri Nikhil Chandra Nag, Duftry bound the manuscript. The contributions of all my colleagues to the study had qeen signifi- - cant. lowe to all my deep sense of gratitude. Sri Arun Kumar Roy, Investigator, though not directly associated with the study, had not remained behind the curtain. He came forward to involve his friend Sri Iitendra Kumar Das, Artist in preparing the cover design for the report. No word of thanks is great enough to express our indebtedness to Sarbasree Arun Kumar Roy and Iitendra Kumar Das. Sri Himangshu Saha Chowdhury, Printing Inspe ctor, took immense interest in the proof reading. His indefatigable zeal was ins trumental in printing of thjs volume. He was ably assisted by Smt. Manjusree Saha Chowdhury, Proof Reader (Gr. I), Sri Sushil Kumar Dutta, Proof Reader (Gr. I,) and Sri Mohit Kumar Paul, Assistant compiler. I thank Govt. of India Press, Minto Road, New D elhi and also Sri B.P. Jain, Deputy Director (Ptg.), Office of the Registrar General India., for expeaitious print ing of this monograph.
Calcutta; SUKUMAR SINHA Joint Director of Census Operations, The 7th December, 1988 West Bengal
tONTEN1.'S
FOREWORD vii
PREFACE • ix CHAPTER-I Hilltory of origin and development of the craft 1-7 Introduction, types of mats, origin and history of the craft, Myths and legends associated with the craft and craftsmen Community, Magical and religious practices connected with the craft, craft-centres within the State, craft-cen~res . outside the State, Community associated with the craft, particulars of artIsan households in the state, Articles produced in different craftcentres, Disposal of finished products, Areas of disposal of finished products, Co-operative Societies in the State associated with the craft. Training-cum-production centre (;l!IAPTER-II Craftsmen in their rural setting 8-20 Introducing the craft-centres, Location of the craft-centres, Amenities and Services, Demographic profile of the craft-centres. Other crafts in the villliges Craftsmen and their households engaged in the craft, Settlement pattern of the craftsmen households, General economic condition of the artisans, Social status of the craftsmen, Demographic profile of craftsmen households, Occupational characteristics in artisan households, Demographic profile of the non-practising households, Occupational characteristics of the non-practising artisan house holds, Growth and Development of the craft, Services available to the crafts men
"HAPTER.-III Processes of Learning 21-24 Introduction, Duration of association, source of training, Nature of work per formed. Period of training, Terms and conditions of training, Acquisition of skill, Life history and biographical sketches of few artisans Manufacturing processes 25-36 Place of work of artisans, Purity and pollution, Particulars of the articles prod uced. Raw materials used in the manufacture of maslands, Main raw materials subsidiary raw materials. Average monthly consumption of raw materials. Col lection of raw materials, Source of subsidiary raw materials, Terms and condi tions of purchase of raw materials, main and subsidiary, Price, Stages of production, Tools and Equipments, Manipulation of tools and equipments, Price of tools and equipments, Division of Work, Use of new tools or techni ques, Designs, Preparation of designs. (CuAl>TER-Y Marketing 37-42 Annual production, Purpose of production, Method of disposal, Residence of traders, Markets, Hats, Fairs, Quantity sold to different agencies, Margin of profit, Terms and conditions of sale, Proportion offinished products sold locally and exported, Problems of marketing. CHAPTER-VI Craft and Employment. 43-46 Orgin of the craft in the craft-centres, Association of artisan households with the craft, General condition of the craft during the last few decades, Employment since, 1941, Unemployment, The present state of the craft, Attitude and opinion of the craftsmen, Development of the craft for generation of more employment (xiv) Page CHAPTER VII Conclusion 47-49
Views of the craftsmen abo.ut :th.e lcI:\lf~ , ~n;)b.lel11s of the craft, Remedial measures to solve the problems, Govt. measures so far taken, Future prospects.
Bfl1liography 50 A8BENDIX Tables 1-66 LiNJ of Statements I. -1 Distribution of craftmen (19611) I. 2 >P~t1ii~""tio_n .9£ fCt;~ft: ~~ntr:es .(,198:7) II. 1 'i:>emo_gFaphic :pronle ,ef rralda (198'1) II. 2 i.,Q~Qgr{l-Rb.i_c ( pr:Qti~e 9 f S.~lltta , (1987;) II. 3 _f)_ttl!l~gr1\Rhic J~rofile.of ~~91abery~ Jt98'7) II. 4 ,;Details !0f ,praq!ismg ;ar\isrun ho,usehokis ,and ..artisans ,therein II. S Name and popUlation of selected craftsmen households II. ,t) Demographic profile·of selected practising aFtisan'households II. 7 ,As..e,.,gt;QHP ,.of , ~~ :Pl':!lQtwi:9g ,. ar.ti~~~ ;of ~ ~he ..~ elt!<;~ed . qr~ft:~ptreg IV. 1 .~fi~e qf .t.ools .3:1).d ,egujPm..ents IV. 2 .N;ilmes , alld , qe~~ript,ionqf.~efl!gllS V. 1 ,~:rticula~s ofr:Hats V. 2 .::eartic:qII\{S Map Location of selected craft-centres Facing page List of Photographs with captions 1 Not aUll'OIi~tofld-~\'o~c.h (to Ithe : praft~ntre jn §,al'tta1the imprQ.vised ~9cle-van trans ports both men and ··m:~rf;bJl.u 3 TJte _'~Il~pa.hW~y' · to:tbe. er-aft.:centre: i-n 4 T~ · interj ar · view ~f tpe·eraft- 5 In ~the 1hefi:rt -e( th~lqOality -of.tb,e 6 A \ ~lP.itpr ;Qf ;j!..~ ti,~!!ns' : )u~ts ip ; ~hQI?l1~.(Y~ 7 A map of India depicted on the masland mat in the craft-centre'in Sartta represents an arti cle produced in the past 8 I~print of immorality-the portrait of Bapuji on a mas/and mat in the craft-centre in Sa rtta i s-also 13 A masland mat produced at Kholaberya for an: etttty in a.i competition at tl1e- State level \!'Ses two colours(black and magenta) and employs designs with motifs of animals, birds and flowers 14 Masland mat produced in Kholaberya IS Ati6ther miis/anima! in Kholaberya with vertation in the' us'e ot designs 16 The matsticks in the field provide the basic raw material 17 The matsticks in the field being harvested with the help of a Dad( chopper) by'art a:t"tisan 18 Soitin'g-cum-slzirig of masticks in the field 19 Sun-drying of the sorted and sized masticks spread out in the open ffeict' 10 Sun-dried matstkks being carried home from the field 2-1 Bira-Bandha (bundling) of Khanchi (matsticks-) in the courtyard of the' residence-cum-workshop of the ar-tisan 22 Bundles being carried for storing 23 Bundles being arranged before stoiirig 24 A bundle of split Khanchi (matstlck) after purhase from the Hat 25 Cherdi (sPli tting) of matstIcks into finer strands witli the-help of Tinkoy.--IJ (knife) 26 Redrying of split mats ticks to sun-bleach the green colour into a gjld~n tin:g~ 27 Preparing Tandsuta (warp) with the heip' of Laldi (tUrriing whee'I) to the teft #.adPditl (drawing wheel) to the riglit 28 Twisting and spinuirlgof Suta(thread) with the help of Charka'( s-p'inning':wheel) at1d Palti 29 Setting up of looms and arranging the Tana Suta (warp threads) 30 Weaving operation of a plain masland mat 31 Further incisive splitting of a Khanchi with the help of teeth into finer starands of thread 32 Designing a mas/and mat of the plain variety 33 Weaving a masland mat-artisans in pair--mother and daughter working together 34 Female artisans of the same family weave a masland mat 35 Lettering a name on 'the masland mat as per specification of the customer 36 Close-up view of the two artisans weaving from two ends 37 A female artisan in Kholaberya almost in the finishing stage 38 Dhar-Kata (cutting the edges) of a masland mat after completion of weaving 39 Polishing a finish,~d masland mat with the help of a Purul (Pentsandra) 40 Leaves of a Rang gaach (Peristrophe tinctoria) used as a vegitable dye 41 Dry leaves of the Rang gaach are further dried in the sun '42 Colouring the Khanchi in the solution of vegetable dye heated on an oven 43 In Kholeberya dry Khanchis sometimes soaked in cold water before being dipped in the dye· solution 44 A view of the production unit in the verandah of the artisan's but-arisan couple at work in Sartta 45 Four looms under one shed of a residence-cum-workshop in Kholaberya 46 Two artisan groups at work in Kholaberya under the shed in the courtyard but not in the verandah or living hut 47 Tools and equipments ensemble-(a) Palti (drawing wheel) (b) Small Palti (c) Charka (spinning wheel) (d) Hata (reed) (e) Hata of another variety (f) Tinkona Churi(a veriety of knife) (g) Dao (chopper) (h) Bankano Chhuri (a knife of another variety (i) Latai (turning wheel) (j) Kodal (spade) 48 March to the market with the articles produced for disposal 49 Wares on display in Nehru Market at Digha (xvi) 50 The customer in the left inspecting a masland mat in a shop in Digha 51 The family of a practising artisan in Sartta 52 Swing between dream and reality-Sri Asok Kumar lana, a young, enterprising crafts-man in Sartta 53 Maturity and experience immutablY imprinted on the face of Sri Babu Lal Jana, a master craftsman in Sartta 54 A contented mother and a proud master craftsman Sm. Pushpa Rani Jana in Sartta won the national award in 1980 under the aegis of the All India Handicrafts Board 55 The National Award bagged by Sm. Pushpa Rani Ja na of Sartta in 1980--the backdrop of the masland mat won her the prize 56 Several practising artisan families in Talda against the setting of their residence-the homely atmosphere heightened by the bovine livestock enjoying a siesta 57 The march of age still far, yet celebrated for skilful lettering on mas/and mats-Sm. Mukta Ranj Jana, an expert female artjsan jn Talda 58 Sri Dharanidhar Jana, a master craftsman in Talda 59 Kholaberya too has its quota of master craftsmen-Sri Harendra Nath Pradhan, a dedicat ed master craftsman .60 Sri Srinibas Giri, a master craftsman in Kholaberya, has in his bag many awards 61 Thevjew of Maduram, the Co-operatjve Society in Kholaberya with Sri Swapan Giri, Secretary 62 A Siva temple in Kholaberya which draws the craftsmen together CHAPTER~I HISTORY OF ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF mE CRAFf INTRODUCTION TYPES OF MATS . Mat-weaving is · a commonly practised popular In West Bengal six varieties of mats are being craft in the rural areas of West Bengal. The mats produced and they are (1) Masland, (2) ' Ekhara; of West Bengal are reputed for their artistic (3) Do-hara, (4) Me,Le, (5) Hogla and; (6) Pa.!ii The! designs, excellent craftsmanship and perfect mats of the first four types are made from !vItldtir· evenness of textiles. Essentially a . simple utility Kathi, a kind of grass-like plant with jointless item .0£ rural area, it is nOW gradually finding a stems growing in marshy areas. Hogla mat is place in the homi:!s of m.odem urban consumers in made from reeds and· the Pati· is a product of West Bengal as a luxUry item. Mat produced in aq.uatic grass. Of- these six varieties· of mats;., West Bengal are also appreciated for their cool masla'nd is of the superfine class.' FOr the present' comfort, pleasing colours and decorative designs. study 'On rural based' handicraft: only those ·craft-' centres which' produce masland mats have been· Mat is a typical product of· a rural handicraft: selected. It is remarkable that the centres· of It is practised in the residence-cum-workshops o£ mas Land mats are concentrated only in the district the , ~ artisan households with the help of family of Medirtipur- but nowhere else. The basic raW members. This rural handicraft provides em material of the masland mats is madur kathi or ployment to a large number of artisans mostly in Cyperous tegetum in Latin language. The the district of Medinipur, at· present tne largest sm.oothly elegant mats, commonly found in the district in West Bengal. With the partition of district of Medinipur, are made of fhis sedge· the country, the craft has gained adherents in the which is also cultivated' in the, district of Medinr district of 24-Parganas also. Displaced persons in pur. lange number hailing frOm Khulna, a district in BangIa Desh, are now engaged in the production ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE CRAFT of mats in their homes. In Nadia, the craft, though of a longstanding fame, now is in a moribund (a) ANCIENT PERIOD stage. In Koch Bihar, as in 24-parganas district, References to mats are found in the sacred ., the craft, has recei'Ved a shot in the arm with the scriptures of the Sanskrit literatuFe. These _. migration of displaced persons from BangIa Desh. classics clearly reveal that mats are of consL In West Bengal, thel majority of the mat-weavers derable antiquity. are found in the Police stations of Sabong, Egra, Ramnagar, Narayangarh, Panskura and Patash Taittiriya Samhitat and Sat.apatha Brahma.na.2 pur in the district of Medinipur where mats ·of refer to Kucha which is a small square grass mat. different varieties are being manufa 1 Taittiriya samhita, VII, 5,8, 5 2 Satapatha Brahmana XI, 5, 3, 4, 7 3 Ibid, XIII, 4, 3, 1 Ncu."asingha (the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu) masland mats for use in the Collectorate. The is said to have torn open the breast of Hirun1la rate of revenue used to vary 'in relation to the kashipu, the most powerful demon king, just as a price of the mats. There were four permanent Katakrit (a plait of straw mats) spltits the eraka markets in the district of Medinipur. In each grass. of these markets 1,000 to 2,000 persons used to transact bUSiness. Kasijora and N arajol were In the Vanaparba of the ;~fahubharata, Pan. the two most important craft-centres of masland chaH, the wife of the pandavas, laments on seeing mats during this period during which mats of the durbha grass mat occupied by Yudhisthira in ordinary varieties were also being produced on the forest when she was reminded of the beauti a commercial basis in large numbers. ful throne in the palace. In the same Parba, the sage, Risyasringa is described to have offered a (c) BRITISH PERIOD mat of durbha grass as seat to a Brahman ~ Hunter' enumerates 618 mat-weavers in the In the Atharva Ve,d;a4 Kasipu indicates a mat district of Medinipur in 1872 while referring to made from grass. The chief priest is sta'ted to sit the artisan and manufacturing crasses. upon a golden Kasipu of stronger material than grass and of superior craftsmanship. Bracelets O'Malley' found in 1911 that mats were made 01' other products made from this grass are referr at Raghunathbari, but excellent matting is also ed to in a Danastuti (PraiSe of God) i'n the Rig. made at Kasij~a and Narajol. It is interesting veda. that eventually, all such places happen to be loca... ted within the boundaries of a particular geogra In Silappathikarai> a Tamil classic attributed phical area of the district of Medinipur. O'MaUey8 to Someswar about the 2nd Century AD. Kan also refers to a place called MasZanjdpu~ "famous naki is described as offering a small mat briefly for its fine mats, some of which are sold for made of white dry grass to her husband Koradu more than Rs. roof - each". It is reported that toe to enable him tp sit fOr his meals. During this number of mats manufactured in 1907-08 was period, mat-weaving was a cOmmOn craft in 448,300. Porletl describes. "In Midnapore mats Tamil Nadu and Kerala. known as maslands, are made from reeds, which are steeped in water for 24 hours, stripped, dried (b) MUSLIM PERIOD in the sUll, dyed red and split to the required thinness" . The origin of the craft in West Bengal dates back to the Muslim period, when masland mats It is observed that during the Britisli period, of the 'Superfine variety with silk )'lam as weft the production of mats of the masland variety Were produced under the patronage of the rulers. did not flourish as in the Muslim period due to The craft during this periOd also flourished in lack of proper patronage from the ruling dasses. different parts of the district of Medinipur with But, even then, The craft developed in the re direct and indirect help from the Government. mote areas of the district of Medinipur. It is re_ During this period the craft had SO developed that ported that during this period, the touring British like muslim a masland mat of three cubits by five officers were not at all embarrassed to take 8 cubits could easily pass through a cylindrical pieCe of masland mat as gratification. hollow bamboo piece of 1f' diameter. During this period mats could be collected as revenUe of (d) MODERN PERIOD Jagirdari system. In 1744, Nawab Alibardi Khan issued a charter to the J agirdars in this regard According to Mitrata "the best mats are said and as a result, it was obligatory to supply to be made at Raghunathbari but excellent mat.. Notes : 4 Atharva Veda, VI, 138, 5 5 Part VIlA-Selected crafts of Kerala-1961 Census (Pases 145-146) 6 Statistical Account of Bengal by W. W. Hunter, P-46, Vol. III, London, Trubnel' and Co. 1875. 7 Bengal District Gazetteer, Midapore by LSS, O' Malley Chapter XlI- l'S.2.Tbe BeDaal Secretariat Book Dopot, Caleutta-1911 8 Ibid· PP 9 Census Report of Bengal, 1931 by H ..E. Porter- Vol. V-P308-PlFt t-R.eport~Appendi~, calcutta c.ntFal Publications BraJlch. 1933. . ting is also made at Kasijora and Narajol. The craftsmen, the craft of mas land mat-weaving is Cottage Industries wing of the Directorate of In still the sourCe of livelihood of a large number of dustries in the state has achieved some successful persons in the remote rural areas of Medinipur organisatiOn and excellent specimens of mats and district in West Bengal. maslands are now sold again in the Govt. Sales MYTHS AND LEGENDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE Emporium at Calcutta". In tliedistr'id of MedinL CRAFT AND CRAFTSMEN COMMUNITY pur 89 establishments were engaged in mat-weav ing in general. In all 148 males and 25 females Mat weaving of the masland variety is not an in the age-group 18 years and above, 10 males in old and traditiona1 craft. The craft originated the age-group 15-18 years and four males in the in the Muslim period of Indian history. Though age-group 0-14 years were associated with craft. the sacred scriptures and the classic literature An intensive study undertaken On masta:n{{ refer to mats produced from grass, mats manu mats in 1961 reveals that the craft centres of fact.ured from sedge-like plants !ire not mention maslamd mat-weaving were all located in only ed t\lerein. However, the local informants throw two Police Stations in the district of Medinipur. light on legend regarding the name and origin of the craft.. ::-T ATEMENT 1.1 Distribution ()f Craftsmen (1961) ----_ ------The ruler of Bangal in the Mughal period want Name of the Police District Number ed to sit upon a mat of fine textures and deft crafts craft-centre Station of House- manship and to use it as a covering of the royal holds ------throne. In re3ponse to the desire of the ruler, 2 3 4 the artisans began to manufacture mats with strips of matsticks as weft and silkyarns as warp 1 Sartta Sabong Medinipur 20 for use of the ruler. As a royal throne in Arabic 2 Talda Do Do 22 language is called MasTand it is believed that the 3 Nila Do Do 1 mat of Masland or ~Maslandi variety nas been derived from the Arabic word itself. f 4 Datanda Do Do S S Kholaberya Ramnagar Do 51 The local a1·tisans are ignorant of the origin 6 Sadi Do Do 2 and history of their respective castes. In the ------different craft-centres of arid mats fhe MahL The Cottage and Small Scale Section of the masT syas and the Bairagis are associated with the Directorate of Industries jn seventies was look ing after the development of the craft. During craft now. But none of them is of an artisan th'is period, the area of mat-making had Widely caste traditionally. The Mahisya art'1sans have expanded. The total number of artisans in the ~een pursuing the craft as a hereditary occupa Police St.ations of Ramnagar, Egra, Pingla, Sa tIon. But, the Mahisya and the Bairagi artis~lllS bong and Panskura had increased substantially. both refuse to accept the craft as the traditional occupation 'of their communities. They have their The famous centres for marketing of mats in general were then locateu at Mirgada. Dubda, Ra own traditional occupations. The official records ghunathbari a,nd Balichak. During 1970 , the total indicate cultivation to be the traditional occuoa number of establishments engaged in maLmak_ tio~ of the Mahisyas. "Begging or singing of de_ votIOnal songs" is the traditional pursuit of the ing were approximately 7,440 units in rue district Bairagis. of Medinipur alone. No spe-cific figure about the total number of establishments and total number MAHTSYA of artisans regarding masla.nd mat-weaving is, however, available. ~ccord~ng to Mitral! in 1901 Census, agricul... In 1981 Census the craft :)f masland mat-weav tUrlst Kalbartas were enumerated as Mahisyas. ing has been stUdied. In 1921 , the agriculturist Kaibartas were referred to as Chasi Kaibartas or Mahisyas while the It has been observed that inspite of the ups J alias were returned as Adi (Original) Kaibartas. and d::>wns in the economic ~ondition of the In 1931, the dichotomy was dropped and agricultu- Notes: 10 District Censu~ Handbook, 1951-Midnapore by A. Mitra -Pt XC-IV Office of the S dt r CO· calcutta" 1951. ", up . 0 ensus p::ratJOns, west-Benga 1, 11 Tribes and Castes of West Bengal, census 1951 by-A Mitra, Wcst ~~i81 (lQvt. Pre ~ s " Aiir:ore 1953., pp32. 4 .rist Kaibartas were returned as simply Mahisyas STATEMENT 1.2 · and the Fishermen as Adi or Jalia Kaibartas.·The Distribution {) f craft,centr{ s (1987) · Mahisyas nOW claim to be pure Kshatriyas or in the alternative Mahisy CRAFT-CENTRES WITHIN THE STATE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRAFT There- are at present, five important places As pointed out earlier, the artisans belOnging where the craft of masland mat-weaving is to Mahisya caste are not traditionally assiciated practised. with the craft. The artisans initially Were not -----• ... _--_._--- 12 Census Report of Bengal, 1931 , Vot. V, Part I, Report Appendix A.E. Porter Central Publications Branch, Ca!c ~t ta - 1933 P. 308. 13 Tribes a'11 Ca'i tes of B ~n~a! , by H.H Ri sley, Vol, I (Page 51) Ethnographic Glossary, CaIcutta-198L 5 .weavers. .. .But 'incourse of· time they picked up breadth of 22,8 em. This is done on the prinCiple •. the rediments of the craft, -bade farewell to their that the large is the number of warping'threads, · tliaditional o.ccupatio.n of .cultivation· arid took up the finer will be the split mat-sticks USE!d as weft. · in right earnest mat-we;:Lying of the mas Land Moreover, as the number of counts get higher, variety. ·In the view o.f , t~ artisan~ cultivation the quality of masbnd mats will be finer. , did not suit the temperament 'Of the female mem- · hers o.f their hOl,lsehold as an occupation but The 'masland mats have in the main two uses, weaving could be , practised at home hy women, - namely, as flo of-covering and as bed-spreads . .In · Availability of. the basic raw materials in an area the summer the masland mats are spread over ,predominantly inhabited by the Mahisyas, may beds for comfort and eosiness. The Muslims also have prompted the Mahisyas in . shifting of occu sit on the masland for offering prayers. In pation from cultivation to maLweaving. The Orissa it is customary to present masland to a artisans of ' the Bairagi community have adopted pride during her marriage, the craft on account of, the local influence .o.f the Mahisya craftsmen. Mat-weaving is no',; the It is not possible to discuss the approximate traditional occupation of the Bairagis too· They quantity of mas land mats produced in all craft · have also adopted a new occupation as their centres during the last one year (1986) because source .of livelihood. by shifting from their tradi . of absence of data on this score from any source. tional occupation. DISPOSAL OF FINISHED PRODUCTS pARTICULARS OF ARTISAN HOUSEHOLDS IN THE The mas land m ats of different Sizes and counts STATE are generally disposed of to the wholesalers in different hats (open air country markets) located In different craft-centres of the ;State, ~ there in all 139 practising artisan ' households (137 near the craft-centres, where the artisans sell their finished products to the wholesalers against Mahisya and two Bairagi) comprising 474 males payment in cash. The artisans of Sartta, Talda and 442 females, of which 218 males and 2lG females are associated with craft. Thus 43,1 per and Kholaberya follow this method of disposal. cent of the members of the practising artisan But in the craft-centre of Kholaberya some artL households ' are practising craftsmen, . The sans diSPOSe of their finished products through Mahisya artisans account for 429 persons and the Co-operative Society. The artisans who are only five be10ng to the BaiTagi community. The're not members of the . Society sell their products in the are nine children ,below 14 years associated with Hats. the craft. In some cases, the artisans produce articles on special orders from individual consumers for sale :ARTrCLES' PRODUCED IN DIFFERENT against payment in cash. ~ ,CRAFT CENTRES 'The craftsmen of Sabong P olice ;Station sell . In all the ,cr,lfLcentres the artisan hbuseholds their finished products to the wholesalers at the are engaged in the ~roducti0n of only 'one item Hats and they maintain cordial relation with ,the of the craft, masla:nd mats of varioUS ~izes ang tt8clers, 'On "the ~other hand. the artisans of Ram counts. The"stai1darct'siz'e of th~ masland mat nagar Police Station dispOSe of th c=ir p~oducts t~ varies from 91.4 Cm X 182.9 cm in the craft..cen the 'Co..;opera:tive Society as also to the wholesale tres in Sabong Police Station to 83.8 em X 182.9 traders in the Hats. cm in the craft-centr es of Ramnagar Police Station. In all these ~raft-centres the 'length nf It has been ascertained that five per cent of the mas land . mat -always remains the same, but the finished products are sold to the traders in only the breadth of the mat varies accordincr to their residences, ten per -cent of the products are b the order of the wholeseller 'and specificatiOns of sold in markets, 75 per cent in the local Hats, the consumers, The masland mats also may .be five per cent in the local fair and five per cent to of various counts between 40 to 140. The quality the Co-operative Society_ of fineness of any mat is determined bv the num ber of counts. the COunt' again depending on the The artisans--are of the opinion that ,the Gov number ?f cotton threads 'used iI.l the warpJor a ~rnment , agency should take ~immediate steps for 6 the procurement and sale of finished products craftsmen community. In the district of MedinL from the artisans and pay appropriate price to pur, there are two Co_operative Societies at the the artisans so that they do not face any problem Police Station level to cater to the needs of the regarding tre marketing of their proaucts. mat-weavers in general. One such Co_operative Society is located at Dashgram for the artisans The craftsmen at the time of sale of their pro_ of S'abong Police Station and the other is located ducts calculate the profit margin on the basis of at KholaberYa for the artisans of Ramnagar the difference between the cost of production and Police Station. In the village of Kholaberya the sale price of an unit of production. In most there is a Co_operative Society named Maduram cases, the artisans at the time of sale of their e~ngaged exclusively in the welfare of the mas· articles derives a profit ranging from 25 to 50 land. weavers of the areaS. per cent. In case of any special order the arti sans also minimises their profit to 25 per cent. At Maduram, the Co-operative Society of the the time of sale of any product to the -consumers masland mat-weavers, was established on 1st or traders the artisans calculate the profit mar January, 1986 with 14 members drawn from mas gin by estimating the cost orproduction 0/ the land mat-weavers. The area of operation is unit product at the initial stage and tlien fixes confined to Kholaberya where -- the craft_centre the sale price. In the case of any exigency, the is located. Eight artisans COVe rea b'y the pre_ articles are sold without any motive for higher sent survey are members of the saId "Co-opera profit margin. tive Society. The eligibility for lliembership requires a masland mat-weaver to be aged bet... AREAS OF DISPOSAL OF FINISHED PRODUCTS ween 18 years and 45 years and to be a share holder. Of all the nine members of the execu Masland mats produced in different craft tive committee, eight artisans have been survey_ centres are sold generally withIn the'Slate of ed. They inclUde the President, the Secretary, West Bengal. It has been ascertained that nine the Cashier and five other members. The Co ty per cent of the total produce are sold within operative Society extends credit facilities and the State and ten per cent of the total products sales promotion service to the member artisans. are exported outside the State, specially to The member artisans haVe each received a loan Orissa. In West Bengal the finished products of Rs. 1,0001- from the SOCiety. Financial posi are sold at Dashagram, Sabong, Sadi, Deuli. tion of the Society is not very sound, in as much Mecfinipur, Digha and at Calcutta. as it has only Rs. 500/-in cash in hand. The problems mainly encountered by the Society Local production is adequate to meet the comprise non-availability of funds to meet the demand for finished products from different areas, growing demands of the members and also time The local artisans depend On the local and inter ly realisation of loans from the member artisans. nal markets for marketing of their products. The artisans, however, are satiSfied with the Foreign markets are unknown to the local arti activities of the Co-operative Society and they sans. are aware that the SOCiety has benefited them substantially. The role of Experimental Workshop-eum-Re. TRAINING-CUM-PRODUCTION CENTRE search Institute under the Directorate of cottage and Small Scale Industries is qUite praise'worthy. There is no trainni·g-c,um_production centre It is engaged in research on mat and training of associated with the craft, sponsored either by the the mat-weaving artisans. This institution is Government or by any private organisation' any located at Baruipur town in the district of where in the State of West Ben,gal. But in the South 24-Parganas. But their activiti.es are con past attempts were made to establish such insti fined to ordinary mat and not masland. tution in the district of Medinipur. CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIFS IN THE The local artisans of the Ramnagar Police STATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRAFT Station report that during 1957, Late Dr. B. C. Roy, the then Chief Minis There is no apex_Co_operative Socie'1;y at the ter of West Bengal started a project State level to cover the entire mat-weaving to deveJop the mat industry with the 7 help of two skilled craftmen of the area, Shri years of service the project was discontinued for Harendra Nath Prodhan and Sri Surendra Nath administrative reaSOnS. Panja. On Dr. Roy's initiative a training-cum production centre for mat making was started During the year 1981 another attempt was but soon the project was closed down after the made by some local social workers of S'abong declaration of emergency in the State. The Di Police StatiOn to start a Training-cum-Produc rectorate of Cottage and Small S'cale Industry tion Centre for the artisans of the area. But the sent the artisans to the Research Centre for attempt proved a failure due to lack of unaer training. Later Sri pradhan and Sri :t"anja were standing between the artisans and the machinery appOinted as teachers of the project bllt after two of the Government. CHAPTER41 CRAFTSMEN IN THEIR RURAL SET:IlNG INTRODUCING THE CRAFT_CENTRES ing centre, however, is located at Dashagram at a dlstance of six k.ms. Medinipur happens to be the sohtary district in West Bengal to llave tne unique dlstmction of Kholaberya in the police station of Ramnagal' locating tne LraH 01 ma;;wnd mat weavmg for a untier Contal SUOdlVISlOn in tile dlstrIct 01 lVl,ed1- very long time. 'lhe craft-centres are locallsed mpur 16 10 lUllS. away Hum ..K amnagar WillCil lo mostly in the police statlOns of :3aoong and Ram_ cates the headquarters of tne polIce statlOn as nagar in the dlstnct of lVledmlpur. '1'0 conduct also the ollice of the Block Development Orrtcer. an m-depth study on the craIt of mat_weaving Tne v1llage is 150 kms. away from lVleci~mpur and of the mas Lana vanety the cralt centres at Taw.a 35 kIns, far from Contai town. Contal l\oatl rail and Sartta in tlie pol.ce statlOn of :::;abong and way statIOn on tile Howran-waltalr sectlOn of the at KhOlabel'ya in tne polIce station of .l:{amnagar ::'uutn J!,a::,1ern .ttallway at a dl::itctnCe of JU .r;:m.s. have been st:lec"Ced On the fulluwmg conSl is tHe nearest rall-head for the craft-centre. The derations: post olllce at ::l<:!oi, the neighoourlllg VIllage, also ca"Cers to the postal reqUlrements of the craft (a) All these crait-centres have acqUired centre. 'l'ne local bl-we.eKly Hat sns at ;:)adi Celebrity for a galaxy of Skllieu pnze every 'l'nursday ;and Saturday. winning artisans. AMENITIES AND SERVlCES (b) MasLand mats of specific variety are pro duced in these crait-centres. The neaxest motorab!e road for Talda passes by the vlllage t.,;handKun, nalf a kllornecre away. (c) The number of artisans in these places is All the m~enor roaus and lanes of tne VIllage are quite large compared to otner craft-cen ku[;cna and. narrow. 'l'nere IS a pnmary scnool tres in the distrlct. at Taiua and the midOle and hign scnools are LOCATION OF THE CE!iFT-CENTRES located. at Chandkuri were Canara Bank of Indla has a brancn ofhce to serve the villages in Located within the jUrisdiction of the police the regIOn. Th7 nearest junior and degree Col station of Sabong unuer Sadar sub-dlvislOn of leges are situated at Temathani (Lutuma) near tne dlstnct of lV1eulIupur, '1'a1tia IS situated at a Saoong. The post office at Dashagram has both distance of 10 kiiomecres trom ::labong where telegraphic and telephonic facilltles, The craft the office of the Block DevelOpment Otficer and centre at Talda has neIther any co-operative so the headquarters of the polIce station are sltuat ciety for the artisans nor any training-cum-pro ed Medimpur, the district and SUb-divlslOnal duction centre. Ringwe1ls and tubewells prOVIde headquarters, is situated at _a distance of 67 kms the sources of drinkmg water to the villages. Not from the yillage. yet electrified, Talda cannot provide any power The nearest railway station of Balichak on the for the operation of tools, Haora-Kharagpur section of the South-Eastern The craft-centre at Sartta is not served by an Railway is 28 cms. away. The craft-centre is served by the post Office at Chandkuri, the pucca road, the nearest motorable road at Bara neighbouring village. The main marketing centre Chahara being at a distance of seven luns. The is located at Dashagram, seven kms. away where village roads and lanes are kutcha as also the road linking Sartta with Bara Chahara. E,ven a weekly Hat (open-air country market) assem bles every Sunday. though devoid of pucca roads, Sartta is not lack ing in educational amenities since the village has Sartta in the police station of Sabong under the a primary school, a middle school and a secon Sadar sub-division of the district of Medinipur dary school. For collegiate education, however, is 10 kms. far from Sabong where the headquar the students have to attend the junior college ters of the police station and the Office of the and degree college at Temathani, (Lutunia), Block Development Officer are situated. Medini Dashagram with a post office provides tele~ pur, the district and sub-divisional headquarters, phonic and telegraphic facilities and also bank is at a distance of 75 kms. and the nearest rail ing facilities because of the location of a branch way station at Balichak is 35 kms. away. The Office of the United Bank of India there. The village has a post office and also its own weekly village is not electrified and has tQ depend on H~t which sits every Friday. The main market- ring wells and tube wells as :!ources of drinking 68 HA-20. 10 water. The village has neither a cooperative tre and other villages around. For drinking society of tbe !'l;rt~sa~s nQr .a training-cum-pro water the villagers at Kholaberya depend 011 duction centre. ringwells and tubewells. The craft-centre has no supply of electricity nor has if any training Like the two other craft-centres Kholaberya cum-production centre. But, a co-operative so too is not connected by a metalled road with ciety in Kholaberya services the craftsmen of outside. Served by kutcha earthen roads, Kho the craft-centre, laberya has to depend on Deuli for the nearest motorable road. Without any educational institu DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF THE CRAFT-CENTRES tion the craft-centre sends its children to the With a total area of 105.97 hecta' es primary, middle and secondary schools at the 66.5 per cent of which are used for adjoining village Sadi and to the junior college cultivation Talda had 50.6 per cent of 174 at Gobr'a at ~ distance of five kilometres. The full-time made workers in 1981 Census degree college at Ramnagar at a distance of 10 engaged in agriculture as cultivators and kms. meets the ,requirements of higher educa agricultural labourers and 39.1 per cent of the tion. Ramnagar also provides postal facilities fulLtime male workers engaged in :household of telephonIc and telegra;>hic communicati~ns . industry. The village is inh2.bited r ~, w by three A branch: office of the United Bank of India at castes and one tribe. The ethnic C leI dem.ogra Deuli meets the banking needs of the craft-cen-, phic features of the village are presented below: STATEMENT 11.1 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF TALDA (1987) - ____.... .--;- - . --~-"_-- ' .- ' ------_.------_ -_._------_------.- ._- .---_ .._ -_._ --- Name of ,the Religion MotheT Traditional No. of Population Avenge siz:: CQmmullit_y ton_gue occupation house ,- .A. -, of In;Jsehold holds Total M:1 le Female . --~-~--- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 Ba!ragi Hindu Bengali Singer of devo. 2 11 6 5 5.5 tienal songs (2.7) (2.5) (2 . 5) (2.4) ~ Brahman Do Do Priesthood 3 22 12 10 7.3 (3.9) (4.9) (5.0) (4.8) 3 M~isya Do Do Cultivation 63 381 204- 177 6.0 (82.9) (85.2) (85.4) (85.1) 4 S.antai (Sche- Do Santali Agricultural 8 33 17 16 4.1 ~uled tribe) Labour (10.5) (7.4) (7.1) (7.7) Tetal 76 447 239 208 5.9 (100.0) (100.0) (100.0) (100. 0) ._------_-- -._-..__ ._ ------_ _',_ ------Notes: FigUNs inside brackets indicate percentages. The Mahisyas appears to be numerically the is highest (941) among the Santals and the majority community both household-wise and lowest (833) among the Bairagis and the Brah population-wise. The Santals, the only sche mans. The average size of the household is duled tribe, accounts for 10.5 per cent of the lowest (4.1) among the Santa1;; and highest (7.3) households but 7.4 per eent of the population. among the Brahmans. Bengali is the mother The average sex-ratio fOir the viUag€ as a whoJ.e tongue of the majority (92 .6 per cent of the is 870 femal€s per thousand males but the same population) and all the persons are Hindus. 11' Interestingly, hQwevers, mat-weaving is not the tors and agricultural labourers. The full-time h adi tional occupation of any ethnic groups. male workers engaged in household iridustry constituted only 7.3 per cent of the full-time Sartta with an area of 219.44 hectares (66.4 male workers in 1981 Census. The number of per cent arf' q being under cultivation) had ethnic groups in the crafLcentre of Sartta is 88.5 pe'.· cec'lt A" "'_; () iull-t;me male w,'1 rkers (1981 13, the demographic particulars of which are Census) assoc' ·.ted with agriculture as cultiva_ presented below. STATEMENT In D emographic profile of Sartta (1987) 12 Numerically the Mahisyas constitute the hold for the village as a whole is 4.9. But the majority community from the points of house average Kayastha household is the smallest in holds and population. On the other side of the the village with 401 members while an aver spectrum lie the two Napit households with 12 age Tantubaya household with 6.9 members is persons and they are in the minority. The the largest in the village. Bengali is the mother scheduled castes covering the Dhobas, the Doms tongue of the majority (92.5 per cent of popu1a and the Haris account for 8.2 per cent of the tion) in the village where all the persons are total households and 9.1 per cent of the total Hindus. Though basket-weaving and handloom population of the village. The Lodhas and the textile-weaving are the traditional occupations Santals belonging to the scheduled tribes toge of the Doms and the Tantubayas respectively, ther aocount for 23.4 per cent of the households none of them practises masland mat.weaving. and 21.1 per cent of the population of the village. The sceduled castes and the scheduled tribes together stand for 31.6 per cent of the With the land area of 39.31 acres of which households and 30.2 per cent of the population 67.9 per cent are under cultivation, Kholaberya of the village. While there are 1,174 females had 30.8 per cent of full-time male cultivators per thousand males for the village as a whole, and agricultural labourers in 1981 Census and the sex-ratio is the highest (2,273 females per 51.3 per cent of the full-time male workers· thousand males) among the Dhobas and the engaged in household industcy. There are only lowest (607 females peT thousand males) among two ethnic group the demographic particulars the Karmakars. The average size of a house- Q>f which are presented below. (. ( I d , ,I STATEMENT II.3 ( ~) (I .1) , Demographic profile of Khalaberya (1987) , population Average Name of the Com Religion Mother tongue" Traditionaloccupa- No of size of ~unity tion house- Persons Males Females house holds holds (11 (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) 1 Brahman . Hindu Bengali Priesthood 1 19 10 9 19'0 (1. 2) (3,4) (3' 2) (3' 7) 2 Mahisya Do Do Cultivation 82 538 303 235 6·6 (98' 8) (96' 6) (96' ,8) (96' 3) Total 83 557 313 244 6'7 ~ (100 .0) (100' 0) (100' 0) (100' 0) to Note: Figures in brackets indicate percentage. The Mahisyas are in the majority from the OTHER CRAFTS IN THE VILLAGES points of both households and population. The sex-ratio for the Mahisyas and the Brahmans Talda i's basically a mat-weaving centre are 775 and 900 females per thousand males manufacturing ordinary mats and masland mats respectively. The village isl inhabited by of superfine variety. Of the 51 artisan house Bengali Hindus and mat-weaving is nor the holds associated with the craft, 31 households traditional occupation of neither the Brahmans produce masland mats and 20 households are nor the Mahisyas. engaged in the production of ordinary mats._ 13 The village does not have any other craft. Mat selected house-hold has a practising artil'Jan as its weaving is the hereditary but not the tradi head and that the selection covers the households tional occupation of the hQuseholds. of master craftsmen and experienced artisans. The sample households represent 64.5 per cent of In Sartta masland mat-weaving is the major the practising artisan households in Talda, 80 per important handicraft with which 25 artisan cent of such families in Sartta and 32·8 per cent households are associated. The other crafts of the active craftsmen families in Kholaberya. comprise of handloom textiles of cotton engag ing seven Tantubaya households, blacksmlthy In Talda 53 practising artisans in nouseholds (being the occupation of eight Karmakar house selected comprise of 19 males and 34 females. In holds) and basket-making in which 10 Dom Sartta 80 practising craftsmen in the sample households are actively engaged. Except households include 32 males and 48 females. In masland mat-weaving, all the other handicrafts both the craft-centres the female artisans out_ are the traditional occupation of the craftsmen number the males. The feminine in'fluence is, households which practise these crafts. however. not so pronounced in Kholaberya where 74 practising artisans are constItuted by 39 males Nlasland mat-weaving is the solitary handi and 35 females. Craft pursued in the village Kholaberya by 61 hOuseholds none of which is associated with the In all these three craft-centres there are five crafts on a traditional basis. craftsmen households which had once practised the craft but are nOw non_practising (Talda and CRAFTSMEN AND THEIR. HOUSEHOLDS ENGAGED Sartta each having one non-practising artisan IN THE CRAFT households and Kholaberya having three sucli houseliolds). All the three craft_centres have involved a large number of craftsmen in the weaving of Thus out of 117 practising households 60 '(51.3 masland mats for a considerable period of time. Since each craft-centre has a fair number of per cent) have been selected. masland mat-weaving households, 20 households The detaUs of the practising artisan households engaged in each centre have been selected for the and the selected households with practising artL present study with the stipulations that each sans therein are indicated below. STATEMENT n'4 Details of practising artisans households and artisans therein Total No. of No. of pr:tctisill~ No. ofori1.ctisin~ arti_ Nilme of the No. of Pl"tctising Percen- craft-centre artis'l.tlS in the or~ctising sans in the selt'cted practising artisrJ.n tage artisan households Percentage artisan house- practising artisan house- holds households holds selected ..A...____ ~ -A.. --, --, Total Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (ll) (12) (13) Talda 31 20 64.5 69 25 44 53 19 34 76.8 76.0 77.3 (18.3) (16.2) (19.7) (25.6) (21.1) (29.0) Sartta 25 20 80.0 98 44 54 80 32 43 81.6 72.7 88.9 (26.0) (28.6) £4.2) (38 .6) (35.6) (41.0) Kholaberya 61 20 32.8 210 85 125 74 39 35 (55.7) (55.2) (56.1) (35 .8) (43.3) (30.0) 35.2 45.9 28.0 . Total 117 60 51.3 377 154 223 207 90 117 54.9 58.4 52.5 ------(100.0) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0) (100.0) Notes : (1) Figures in brackets indicate percentages. (2) Col. 4 indicates percentage of CoIs. 2&3. (3) Cois. 11 , 12 and 13 indicat~ perqeqtage of Cots. 5&8,6&9 and 1 and 10, ,14 In all the craft-centres taken together the sex have not. suffered any set b~ck in their economic ratio (females per thousand males) among the fc;rtun~ s . Tlle c;:af(cs as a source of liv~lihood had artisans in the total practising households and prov2d to be lucrative to the craftsmen in the among the artisans in the selected hQuseholds im past and continues to be so even now. The crafts ply a more prOY.' ounced participation of the fe men 100:;;: ur :> n t!-le craft as a major source of males in the, CT2ft than the males. The average gainful employment in the rural economic back number of art:sans per practising household is ground with a: ste£1. ',' y market to absorb the fini three for Talda, 3.9 fOr Sartta and 3,4 for Khola shed f' rnducts uniformly. Tlie artisans, there berya. For the ' selected artisan households the fore, cultivate a keen int.erest in the development average number of artisans is 2.6 for Talda, 4 of the craft which has been instrumental in help_ for Sartta and 3.7 for Kholaberya. ing them to improve their economic standards in the r e~e n t 'nast. ' The artiSans feel that the craft - SETTLEMEl'JT PATTERN OF THE CRAFTSMEN is a dependable and secure occupation because HOUSEHOLDS the fi nished products enjoy q ' ready' market and the raw materials are easily available in plenty. 'rre artisan households live' in different localL Most of the artisans want their sons and daugh ties of their OWn in Talda, The Mahisya crafts ters to take up the craft as their occupation since men households live in Jama Para, Majhi Para it ~s much more profitable than other locally and Manna Para, the localities being derived ,avaiiable e C'Jnomi~ pursuits. As a principl'tl from the surnames of the Mahisyas. The Bairagi economic activitv of the artisa;ns of the region tne artisan household does not live' in an area of its craft enjoys a relatively hi.gfier important ]:osi 'own but" resides at a distance, isolated 'from the tiOIl, among the artisans compared t~ other occU cluster of Ktltcha hous'€s of the Mahisya artisans pations. The heads of the practi'sing craftsmen who live on both sides of the viilage pathway.,' households are self-supporting with other mem In Sartta the Mahisya artisan households are bers being directly ~ cOnneced with the craft as earning dependants. ' " , ' ,mainly concentrated in Jana Parra, a locality , , named on the basis of one the surnames of the During the decade of .1960 the average. monthly caste. They also live in localities known as in.co~e of ' 'a skilled ,artisan varied from rupees e,ttarpam and Dakshinpara, the' lattN area also twen~y to rupees thirty while a very skil1ed mas_ being inhabited 1::y the' Bairagi' artisan household ter cr~ft sman ear:£?ed rupees sixty per~ month on The huts of the l\1ahisya artisans are situated 01'1 account of his creative genius leaving its im- both sides of the village path taking off from the print on his handiwork. The present monthly approach road to the village from Ada Simla. average income of a skilled craftsman is more But, if one enters the village from Khorda, one than rupees four hl!l.ndred. 1 comes across the cluster of the Mahis;ya artisan , ' \ l households in pttarpar,a ' by trekking along the "j SOCIAL STATUS O~ 'THE' CRAFTSMEN ' -J ' village path. . " Tfie craftsmen ,epjoy a pr.estigious position in the sod81 hjertlrely the craft-centres, the arti In Kholaberya. the Mahis-ya art.isan hOllseholds of Sa'!l community playing importar.t roles in diffe with the surnam~ Giri live in Giri Para in a clus_ rent social fUnctions. The artisans traditionally ter. The Mahisya artisans with the surnames of occupy a high P?siton in, the Society, thei:r rela_ and reside in other localities in a Pr..qilran Par0a -tion with other communities and workers in scattered yvay· The houses in Giri Para are ot~er o.ecupations being remarkably good and situation on both sides of the ku.tcha village road, amiable. The artisans are not relegated to inferior approaching from Sadi. , or insignificant positions by important personages. of the area or the region. Their weative work GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITION OF THE ARTI has earned them a position of honour and res_ SANS pect in the society. Economically the artisans in aU the three, craft !:lEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF CRAFTSMEN HOUSE.. centres do not evince any variation and are more HOLDS ' or less identical in nature. The demand for and supply of the products of the craft having been The selected artisan houi;>eholds in Talda have steady and in a state of equilibrium, the artisans a total pbpulation 'on 133 persons with 70 males 15 and 63 females, the average size of a household and J3engali is the mother tongue of all ·the per~ sons. No household is s\_ngle-membered but the b eing 6.7 and the sex-ratio being 900 females per thousand mules. All the households are Hindus majority of households have 6-7 members in each. by religion with Bengali as the m 8ther tongue. The nuclear family wifn the head, his wife and There is no single-membered household and two his unmarried children is the predominant type. households have more than 12 members. The The heads of 19 households have been born in households are mostly of nuclear t.ype with the the village and the head of one household was head living with his spouse and unmarried chil born in the village Kuiri in the police station of dren. Narayangarh in the same district. The illitera ,tes constitute 40 per cent of the population and The village happens to be the place of birth of the never married persons 58.1 per cent. The .\1ouseholds. The ~ead qf only household was married persons account for 30.7 per cent of the born outside in the village,Kulgachia in the PJllce population. station of Moyna in the SZlme district. The litera tes constitute 61.7 per cent of the population and In Kholaberya the selected artisan household the never Inarried persons constitute 54.1 per with an average size of 7·4 per household and a cent of the population in the artisan households sex-ratio of ';'09 females per thousand males in which there are 58 married persons (43.6 per have a population of 147 persons with 86 males cent), two widows and ,one separflted female. and 61 females. The h ouseholds are 'all Hindus with Bengali as the mother tongue. Stat~ml'lnt U.S All the heads of households have been born in N . me anj [JOpu lation of s<: lec[..: d Craft5m .' n househbicis the village. The majority of the households ------_ ._- -.------have 6-7 members in each and are of nuclear No of artisan households Total Populati on type. With 38.1 per cent of the population as ,--.___ • .A.___ , illiterate the artisan households have 53.1 per cent of its members in the never married group and 43.5 per cent as married persons. Practising 1135 233 202 Certain important demographic characteristics of the 60 artisan households in the three craft Non-practising 5 ~o . 19 2 1 centres taken together may be examined in some __. __' - -,------___ details. The average artisan househOld has 7.3 65 475 252 223 Total: persons and 3.5 artisans, the sex-ratio being 867, females per thousand males. The households St81t~ment II. 6 , with two members and above but less than six Demogr.lphic profile of selecte p_. prlcti3ing ar~i ~a ns house holds members account for 38.3 per cent of the house holds, households with 6-7 members comprise of No. of selected Total ,Size Sex-ratio 26.7 per cent of the total households while those artisan households population of ,--- - ..A.._ --., house- with eight members and above constitute 35 per P M F hold cent of the households, the seven largest house ~, ------holds h~ving each more than seven members (vide (I) (2) (3 ) (4) ( 5) (6) (7) Table 4 m the appendix). The children in the age ------~- -- -.------_- group Of. 0_14 years alone comprise of 38.4 per 20 133 70 63 6,7 Talda 900 females per ce~t of the popUlation in the artisan households 1,000 males. ~v I d e Table 1 in the appendix). The labour force Sartta 20 J55 77 78 7'8 1,0J 3 females per 1,000 III the age-group 15-59 constitute 55.2 per cent of males. the population in the artisan households while Kholaberya 20 147 86 61 7,4 709 females old age_group of 60 years and about a.ccount for per 1,000 6.~ per :ent (~ide Table 9 in the appendix). Lea_ males. vmg aSIde 5 ~ ll1fants in the age-group, the illite ------rate ~ersons m the age-group of 5· year~ and above Sartta has 155 persons constituted by 77 males constItute 30.7 per. cent of the population of the 78 and females in the selected households with same, a~e-group l(vI?e Table 2 in the appendix). an average of 7,8 persons p2r household and a The mCldence of lIteracy is higher in the g sex-ratio of 10. 13 females per thousand males. group 5-34 (76,3 per cent) than in the older a g: The households all profess Hinduism as religion group of 35 years and above (51.4 per: !!ent2. a - 16 While 79.6 per cent of the males and 16.7 per ---'-- '-'_._ .- - - 1 2 3 4 5 cent of the females of 35 years and above are lite_ ----._- ._------'_ rate, 91.4 per cent of the males and 60.2 per cent Kholaberya 0-14 2 2 of the females in the age-group 5-34 are literate 13 19 the younger age-groups have passed through the 15-34 32 portals of education mOre than their seniors. The 35-59 30 18 12 marital characteristics reveal that none of the 60 ~~' 10 6 4 males and the females upto the age of 14 years ------is married. Again no male above 35 years of Total: 74 37 37 age and no female above the age of 25 years is a ---_._------...- - -- celibate (vide Table 1 in the appendix). Eight young girls in tIie age_group 0_14 (Six in Sartta and two in Khola,berya) are practising If the artisans in the practising craftsmen artisans. The younger section in the age-group households are examined in detachment from other members some interesting demographic 15-34 constitutes 51.7 per cent of tne artisans. Of characteristics are evident. The total number the male and female artiSans 43.2 and 58·0 per of practising artisans is 20"( comprising of 88 cent respectively belong to this category. Tne males and 119 females in 60 selected households , shares of the age-groups 35-59 and 60 years and above are 34.3 and 9.7 per cent respectively the average sex-ratio among the practising arti among the total artisans of the craft centre. Sex_ san being 135,2 females per thousand males. wise, it is found that 43.2 and 12.5 per cents of While 47.6 per cent of persons in the households the male artisans and 27.7 and 7.6 per cents of are practising craftsmen, 37.8 per cent in the the female artisa,ns fall jn the age-group 35--59 males and 58.9 per cent of the females practise. and 60 years above respectively. Craft-centre the craft. Nine artisan children in the age WIse certain striking variations in the age-group group 0-14 account for 4.3 per cent of the crafts compositions of the artisans are observed. Of the men and include a male artisan of the same age three ·craft-centres with the young a,rtisans in the group in Talda. While no other boy works on age_group 15-34:, Sartta with 62.5 per cent of all the craft in the two other craft-centres, no young male artisans and Talda wifn 67.6 per cent of all girl (in the age-group 0-14), is found to be the female artisans rank highest. In Talda working the craft-centre at Talda. only 26.3 per cent of the male artisans are young (in the age-group 15-34). Statement II Strangely enough, in Talda the young males in Age·group of the practising artisans of the selected craft centres the age-group (15-34) is associated under with Total Population Name of the selected ,-- _ -..A..-----") agriculture than with the craft. Out of 13 male craft centre Age-group P M F workers in this age-group only five are artisans, one is in service but seven are cultivators. The 1 2 3 4 5 artisan households in Talda have landed area for -~------Talda cultivation whereas in the two other craft-cen 15-34 28 5 23 tres the artisan households are not that much in 35-59 20 11 9 a favourable position wherein they have an alter native source to depend on for their livelihood. 4 2 2 60+ Besides, Talda as a craft-centre has not earned ------that much reputation as the two other carlt-cen Total: 53 19 34 tres for excellence in craft-work. Even though Talda has pursued the craft for about a hundred years, there is a dearth of experienced master 0-14 6 6 Sartta craftsmen who could earn distinctive place for 15-34 47 20 27 its products among the clientele. Even enough the 35-59 21 ~ 12 craft is being pursued by 19 male artisans, the young are not so much drawn towards the craft 60 + 6 3 3 as a means of livelihood. The proportion of young artisan women in the Total: 80 32 48 .- ---- age-group 15-34 is the hiihest (67.6 per cent) in 17 Talda. In Talda masland mat-weaving as a craft OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS IN ARTISAN is being continued mainly because-of the larger HOUSEHOLDS component of young artisans being drawn from the females. The craft is not only rural-based It has already been discussed that the craft bas but also baS€d on agriculture so far as the availa engaged a large number of workers in the three bility of raw material is concerned. It's relation craft-centres. Out of 229 workers in 60 practising with agriculture is complementary. If cultivation artisan households as many as 207(90.4 per cent)' and the craft both provide equal income to the pursue the craft of masland mat-weaving. The people in the region then the former draws the rest of the 22 workers in these households are, males and to ~he second is left the responsibility however, engaged in other occupations. of the craft. In Talda agriculture hQlds a more important position to the males because of In Talda 12 workers instead of practising the ownership of some landholding and better craft. pursue other occupations, 11 being cultiva fertility of land compared to that in the two tors and one is a manager in the local agricul craft-centres. The females take ca~e of the tural cooperative society in the village Chand_ craft. But, in the other two centres agriculture kuri. The village Sartta does not have any being not in that much favourable position, occupational diversity of much significance both males and females are drawn to the craft. except that only two workers are cultivators. Tile male ::!rtisans in the age-gI"oun 3!'i-!'iQ and In Kholaberya eight workers in occupations 60 vears abOVe are the highest in Talda (57·9 per otr er thl'ln 'Masland mat-weaving including four cent) and Kholaberya (16.2 ner cent) respectiw·lv cultivators, one salesman in a shop selling mats The highest proportions of female ::)rtisal1s il1 the in Digha. one instructor in the District Industrial same two ap'e q"rouo "'re t() h~ f()und in Khol::!ber Centre, Govt. of West Bengal, in the town of ya (52.4 and 10.8 per cents). The sex-ratios among Medinipm:-, one shopower dealing in the sale o1! the artisans in the age-grout) of 15-34. 35-59 and mats in Digha and one teacher in a Secondary 60-1-- are 1,816, 868 and 818 females per thousand school in the village Sadi. males. . The 207 practising craftsmen fall in two groups The male participation rates among different mainly. In the first group are included 199 artisans age-grouPs are 46.9 per cent (15-34), 92.7 per pursuing the eraft as a primary occupation. But omt (35--5,9) and 61.1 per cent (60 vears and strangely enough, none of them has any secon ~bove) and the same among the female are 87.3 dary occupation. The second group incorporates per cent (15-34) 84.6 per cent (35-59) and cenrt eight artisans followin>! mat-weaving as a primary per cent (60 years and above). occupatjon, cultivation being their subsidiary ac~ tivity. That the craft plays :=t pivotal role in the The analysis of the literacy and education of economy is amply vouchasaf2d by the fact of cul the artisans reveals that women are far behind tivation bein~ the secondary activity of only 3.9 the males in educational attainments in as much per cent of the practising artisans. Obviously the as 59. 'T per certt of the female artisans are illite employment (IDn ortunities in other avenues are rat.e compared to' only 11.4 per cent of the males. remarkably absent. Whereas 3'8.6 per cent of the males and only 18.5 per cent of Hie female artisans are literate, 43'.2 Participation-rates in the craft vary from centre per cent of the males and 20.1 per cent of the to centre and also from the age-group to another females are educated upto the primary and middle sex-wise among the children in the age-group levelS'. The matriculates constitute 5.7 per cent of 0-14. 3.4 per cent of the males are artisans in the males and 1.7 per cent of the female artisans. Talda (Sartta and Kholaberya having no male Incidentally, no artisan, whether a male or a artisan among the children) and 16.7 per cent of female, is a Matriculate in Talda and there is l¥> the girls in Sartta and 10.5 per cent of the females female Matriculate artisan in Sartta. Only one in Kholaberya belonging to the same age-group male artisan in Knolaberya is a graduate. On a are practising craftsman (Talda drmving a blank resume Kliolaberya appears be more enligh to among female child artisan in the same age t.end in matters of education. group). ' 68 RA.--3 , , • A 18 While 71.4 per cent of the males in the age~ . or in a proposess of dec adence. There are only :fiYef group 15-34 in Sartta are associated with the non.-practising artisan households. in the three_ craft'Kholab:etya 'and Talda have a ·much reduced craft.-centres (one, in T alda one in SarHa and participatiori rates among the males of, the same three in Kholaberya). All 'the hou'seholds are ag'e-group (4(},6 and ~.8 ' p~ r c~:nt respectively). Mahisyas by caste p:r;ofessing Hinauism ~d retur The situatib:tlllfis .reversed among tHe females of the ning Bengali as the mother tongue of all the 40 s~rlie age-~m\p -with' the 'Participation rates being members (19 males and 21 females) th~rein .. The lOO':() ; 812 6 landr79,3rper cents in Sartta, Khblaberya ~v€rage size of, the households is eight and the and Talda: respeetively. 1'l'l the higher age-gr-oup s~x-ratio is 1,105 femqles per thousand mElles 15-59, all the males in Sartta and Kholaberya While four Bousehplrls are. of j~int type, one. ~rld Qa.6 ·per cent 'of -the; males in tHe same age hou~ehold in Sa-rtta is, ,of subnuclear type con-: ~oi1-p "are ' engaged , in the craft. Among the sist.ing of the widower head with two young un.. fe'rti'ales of th'e 'same; age-group the' participation married\ daughters. All the three households, in ratel3' are as" diverse as 100.0, 80.0 and 75.0 ' per Khol<.tberya and, one household, in, Sart~a ,are non cents 'in Sartta; Kholberya and 'Dalda. migrqnts, The, solitary , migrant, hpusehold headed ,by a male wh<;> l1ad migrated .from his. 'F-he 4 elderly females of 60 years and above do, village j~ ~irkotta in the , same ,police I station· not lead a retired life in none of the three craft after his marriage here. centre9. for all; <1f them weave mats: While the r ~ - ._.l . same ' is the picture among the old males (60 , Ticere are 'IS·children i.n th~ a~e-grou'P 0-14 and years ' an~ , abov~) in Kholaberya, only 50.0 and one widow of, 60 yearS" and ,abeve!thus 'constitu 33:3 ; pe'r cent .. f ' t.he old 'm8Jes nractise the craft ting 40.0 and 2,5"per cents of·the total population in Sartta and Talda resp-ectiveiy. in the hon-practising' households.- None of the " children, male or female in the a-ge-g;roup ().-}4 is , There are 2M 'non-workers (123 males and 83 mar:r.ied' while- four males ,out ot ,five and two fe-< females) in 60 practisin'g artisan households and males Qut of six inAhe 'age-group ,15<>21-1 are not they include 66 infants (31,9 per cent), 104 stu married, all the seven males out of eight and-fuur o'Ptits (50'!) n~r' cent). 12 hnllsewivpc: (!'i-9'per cent) females in the age-group 15-59 are married. 23 de]:Jend'1irits (11 .2-per cent) and only one male There is one widower' in the age'-group 3O-40"and and oI'J.'Ef"Widi1W ' a'ged 65 yeats: sp.pkiti'Q" eTnn~nvTnent (0 i'i nel" rent). It j~ remark ::l'Me:"thaif"Rhjdehts cons'titute"l maior group among " 'Of 'th~ non-wotkers and the nnlv 5,g"ner Cf>nt of the the':r7 ·m frles 'a_bove five-years five are illite.; Women non-wotkprs are housewives: Women r10 rate, five 'rfioi"lf'are litera .. Ancha! Pq,nc;haJl at Officer ~~d ,ope w9~~er in Dharanidhar J ana a master craftsman in tlie . Village. ~ ThbugW t~ craft is nbt J the fr::1ditiort:fl j .}<:1;101~g e7:;l is a _ whql.e ,~s fl l~ . .' 1J;~ qer }ea1i~g ~ ... , . ' J .\ ) , . , . I I ~_e~el-.~ea.ve~. 1~h!e partl crpati~A r,a~ . of 57.~ .(per ' occtipa~ion of ~ !iny cd :Hllii~ity in ~j;a}tl.'cu1ar, the " rf~~~t ljS.~a.~ ld onty. for the ~~~~es, there being no Milfisyas took interest lin the pursuit Ot'fhe craft female ,worker. 1 • • • • , since its introduction in the village ,Talda. Later, yr"" r" · ~ .l. . ~ i'" ' r I,' I • I 1.1 the Bairagis were drawn to the cr'aft under the . ".e 'j~~ " ~\ .' . II ' ) 'iMh1ence of 'the MahiSya cov{Uager craftSmeh. .' ~ ' 9 ~ ,th.~ : t 9 ~n ~;WQ_rke.t:SI t (~ig4t .mal ~s , and 21 females), six are infants (three each heloJ1ging Now ~the craft is the inain occupation o{ the to the males and the females), 11 are stUdent majoity because (yf easy availa:biIHy' of raw· mate (five males and six females) and 12 are house rial. wives (all females). The craftsmen of Sartta recount that The craft had its origin in Raghunathbari in the police On an analysis of the data above it appears station of Panskura in the same district during that cultivation provides the occupation of 81.8 the Mughal rule. One Sarthak Chandra Jana per cent of the workers. Thus agriculture and the introduced the craft to the Mahisya covillagers craft are the twin sources of livelihood to the in Sartta about two centuries back and ever since workers, the difference being only on the emphasis the Mahisyas had followed the occupation on a on either of the two occupations. A mat-weaver required one more person to help him in the hereditary basis. Here too mat.-sticks used as manufacturing process. If in any household the basic raw material being available in plenty, the craftsmen have no problem in procuring the second worker leaves the scene because of either material. marriage Or death, the household has to leave the occupation. The craft is still considered to be The easy availability of raw material has been the main lucrative occupation by the majority instrumental in keeping alive the interest of the who pursue the occupation primarily cultivation artisa~ in the craft. The lone Bairagi artisan snupplementing the income secondarily. There household took up the craft under the influence being few avenues of employment the economy of the neighbours as also hecause he had nothing has been shaped mainly by the craft on the one else to do. hand and agriculture on the other. 1£ one does not have enough agricultural land, one cannot The craftmen of Kholaberya too subscribe to think of any means of livelihood ot.her than the the widely held belief that the ·craft had origi craft which is pursued not always as a matter nally been pursued in Raghunathbari and-Kasi of choice but under compilesion of the economy jora in the police station of Panskura. One S'rinath with paltry member of alternative occupations. Pradhan, a Mahisya by caste, started the craft one hundred years ago in Kholaberya and the Mahis yas took to this occupation ever since. The asso GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRAFT ciation of the Mahisyas in large numbers with the craft is explained by the fact that in all the It has earlier been discussed in the first chapter craft-centres the path-breakers were Mahisyas that craft had originated in the district of Medi who were pioneers in exposing their covillagers nipur under the rule of the Nawabs (1526-1707) of the same community to the marvels of the during the Mughal period. It has also been high.. craft. But they had not ohjected to tlie Bairagis lighted earlier that the craft had flourished in the beaming the techniques of production from them. past in Kasijora, Raghunathbari and Narajol in the same district. All the craftsmen hold that on SERVICEs AVAILABLE TO THID CRAFTSMEN account of the pat.ronage of the Muslim rulers and local fundatory chiefs the craft had developed In the. absence of any institution like a training.. in the district. The old centes had passed into obli cum-production centre in any of the three craft.. vion but the craft. has not died out. It has sprouted centres the artisans do hardly get any scope or and developed elsewhere in the district. The his opportunity for formal training in the techniques t.ory of the craft in the craft-centres is old but of production. Besides, there being no co-operative not as old as the Mughal period. In Talda tlie Society in Talda and Sartta, the artisans there craft is reported to been int.roduced about two do not. draw any benefit whatsoever. Some of the hundred years by the great grand father of Sri eraftsInen in Kholaberya are howe.ver fortunate 20 • r to hav~ a co-Qperative Society, named Maduram, Directorate of Small Scale annd Cottage Indus establi~ed in 19&6 for providing facilities of tries, Government of West Bengal at the district -credit .and marketing to the member artisans. and state level. The artisans have not received . ' I. ariy assistance either in the matter of procurement ·T.he activ.ities, of the Organisation has already of tools, raw materials and training' from any been discusSed. The artisans are said to have re in9tituti.on or organisation, private or public. The ceived any assistance or help from the Govern. artisans have been themselyes in plying their , ment except the prizes and awards given by the trade. "',,, I I CHAPTER-III I PROCESSES OF LEARNING INTRODUCTION in course of last five years or so. While the young inexperienced artisans working for less than five Masland mat-weaving is a household jCraft run years account for 10.6 per cent of aU artisans, by the head of the household with the assistance 39·1 per cent of the total artisan working force and help of the members of his famlly. Being an can lay any claim to seniority with experience of occupation of the family of the artisan community, two decade!? or more (vide Table 15 in appen- the craft necessitates the active participation of dix). the head in conducting different operations as the most important worker. He works independently SOURCE OF TRAINING on his own initiative and responsibility taking decisions on his own. The members of the family The techniques of the craft are learnt by the sliare his burden invariably as able partners and artisans from the senior practiSing artisan mem compeers. The head of the household does not bers of their families at knowledge of different work on a contract basis nor does he work as an operations to their elders from whom they have employee of any other artisan household. Only learnt the processes as home-apprentices and par two artisans in Talda are found to work on Badli ticipant observers watching the seniors at work. system Or on the system of reciprocal aid with In a few cases the artisans have been initiated others in the manufacture of masland mats. to different processes as trai~es under skilTed artisans of the localit~. None of the has Of the 207 artisans in the three craft-centres, 58 artisans acquired any formal or informal training from workers are independent, two craftsmen aTe any organisation Or institution. Training has been single workers and 147 artisans are family wor· of an informal nature in all the craft-centres in kers consisting of wives, sons, daughters, mothers! the household itself. fathers, brothers, sisters, sons' wives and brothers' wives of the heads. The family workers do not have any independent income as they work in the In Talda 22 artisans learnt the techniques from families on unpaid wages. their fathers, mothers played the roles of trainers in the case of 12 artisans, 14 artisans were ini~ !>UMTION OF ASSOCIATION tiated by their husbands, three craftsmen receiv ed training from their father-in~laws, one artisan Tlie association of the artis~ns with the craft is was trained by his brot.her and one mo:!;'e by his :tot varying periods of time. There_is a mix ot neighbour. ' \ both aged and experienced craftsmen as also semi .. 'skilled young entrants, there being four child In Sartta fathers disseminated ilie knowledge , workers under the age of fifteen years. The maxi to 42 artisans, nine artisans learnt the techniqu~ mum number of 81 artisans (16 in Talda, 27 in from their mothers, 28 artisans received trairiing Sartta and 38 in Kholaberya) have been working from t~eir husbands, and one artisan did not for two decades or more, 62 artisans (20 in Talda, hesitate to learn the know-how from his wife. 25 in Sartta and 17 in Kholaberya) have worked for more than 10 years but less than 20 years, 42 The picture in Kholaberya is not too dHIerenf craftsmen (Talda with nine, Sartta with eighteen from that in the two other craft-centres. Here and Kholaberya with fifteen) have been associa too the training was imparted by fathers to 38 ted with the craft for a period between five and artisans, by husbands to 30 craftsmen, by fathers nine years, while 22 artisans (eight in Talda, ten brother to two artisans, by mother to one crafts.. in Sartta and four in Kholaberya) may be regard.. men, by brother to another artisan and by neigh ed as rather recent entrants initiated to the craft bours to two more artisans. 22 While in 49.3 cases fathers acted. as trainers, allowance also during the training from their husbands played no less important part in train neighbours. The motivation on the part of both ing their wives (34.8 per cent) (vide Table 20 the teacher and the taught has not been conside in appendix). ration of money but the relation of love, affec tion and eagerness to share the skill with interes_ ted people. : . N~Tl!R.E ,Qf WORK PERFORMED All the artisans consider their training to have ( ,,'; .. Th'e dI'a£t '. is ~lessed 'by the Jparticipation of been adequate -and to }laNe stood. them ' in good both males and females. While the outdoor ope stead. They _also , feel that no better iacility l for ~ ; t~ti@d~ :are cahied on by the male , arisanS, the training' is available except what is )impa:rted in , " work 'indoors 1s peiforitned by male and female the household, There is no restriction or taboo "craftrrien both. The male artisans take charge, of I in )the artisan .gr<;mp against trainirig navites the collection of raw materials and marketing:of outside Jibe .kin-groU , I .. II 'I \ . .\ ' \ , , MANUFACTURING PROCESSES PLACE OF WORK OF ARTISANS latter comes to help the former on Badli or reci Even art can be learned in the workshop 6f procal aid system, the terms of which will be diSCUSSed later. The place of work of the head those who are winning their bread by it. B~t of household and other working member artisanS the masland net-weavers do not weave theIr does not differ. mats strictly in a workshop exclusively as such. The artisans do not have any sep"rate room or separate work-shed where they carry on the PURITY AND POLLUTION processes of prq-duction. The head of the house hold with the help of the members of his family No customs or belief is extant among the craftsmen regarding observance of purity and manipulate the tools and equipm~nts i.n the avoidance of pollution. TIie matstick, being a practice of the craft in a part of hIS resIdence. product of the plant, is considered otherwise a Since the dwelling is used also partly for pur_ pure object and does not pollute the craftsmen. poses of production, it serves the purpose. of residence and workshop both together at a tIme The artisans do not observe any ritual or prac_ tice any ceremony at any stage of work. and as such may be termed as residence-cum workshop. The place of work is invariably the residence-cum-v.'orkshop in all the craft-centJ:'es. The hours of work generally last from morn. The households work in their own houses. No ing till lunch break at nOOn and thereafter till household has been found to live or work in a later afternoon as long as daylight is available. rented house. The place of work is not separat The artisans do not have to observe any reli ed from the residence within the same com gious performance before the work or after it is pound. Generally the front part of the .Veran stopped. The artisans do ~ot observe any rule dah just outside the living rooms and facmg the either in matter of dress or cleanliness of the roads are selected as work-site by the artiSans tools and equipments except what is done under to have the fullest advantage of natural light the motivation of personal disposition. There . and ventilation. As all the operations are done is no ritual prescriptiOn about cleartliness of manually no machinery driven manua!ly or. by workshop, tools and equip!'n~nt. Personal hygie. power is fitted in the place of work. t;ometImes nic and cleanliness are the products of indivL open courtyard is used for storage and dr~g dual taste and outlOOk, rather than ilie product of matsticks and also for colouring the sticks of any religious dictate. before weaving. PARTICULARs OF THE ARTICLES RRODUCED The work_place being cOnfined to the resi- . dence the artisans do not have to move about. Masland (superfine mat) is the sole article The a~ea of the place of work varies from three manufactured by the artisans in differtnt craft to five square metres to enable two workers to centres. The craftsmen are capable of manufllc work together to weave a mat in a single frame. turing masland of different sizes and counts, the Where two mats are worked out at a time in two standard size measuring 182.9 em X 96.5 em. The frames with two workers engaged in each, the quality of a m'lsland depends on t.he count which requirement of space will accordingly increase. along with size vary with the speCification of the All the persons work in their own houses and do customer. Some mats are plain in nature with not work in other's place of work as hired some design but without any colour scheme and labourer. Only in one or two case~ wh~n a som.e other mats are decorated with both design single artisan requires the help of an~thif'\'\ ~ " r'(d~ ~l~ . schemes. . :.t__" --il. ~ 26 Masland are generally used as bed speads, swamps and watersides, Khanchi is scientifically floor coverings and occasionally as wall-decora known as Cyperious tegetum. It grows straith tions. The items are presented as gifts during and attains a height of 61 cms to 152.4 ems. man"iage ceremony tOo the bride Or the bride..; Round in shape and deep green -in colour, the grown. Masland is used as a mat rolled down diameter of the stem at the bottom is 1.3 cms but the bed during summer for sleeping. It is used the sta~k becomes narrower towards the crown also as a decDrative cover for a seat on cere where it attains a diameter of 0'.6 cms· With nO monial occasions when guests of honour are ask branch on the stem, three or four narrow pointed " ed to take their seat on it. Used both as utility leaves (akin to sugar-cane) measuring 18.3 cms as well as luxury items mas.land is patronised by grow at the head of the stem. Beneath the oily the consumers for its smooth texture, and cool and. glossy skin of the stem lies the spongy pith. comfort. 'l?he quality of a mas land depends on Production of maslandi requires raw materials of the counts, that is, the number of cot.ton threads two categories, main and subsidiary. (Bain Or Khi) passing through the holes on the MAIN RAW MATERIAL reed (Jata Dr Hata) measuring 22.9 cms. A Jata contains 60 holes in the maximum. It is observed As already mentioned, Khanchi or matstick is that the larger the counts of threads (Bain or the main raw material required in the production Khi). through the holes of a Jata, the finer is of masland. Khanchi is cultivated as a planta the texture of the mat. Obviously, the finest tion crop and after necessary processing soon mat will carry 60 counts of Btain through the after its harvesting, it is used as weft in the holes of the Jata on the side of the warp (J,ana). weaving of maslandi. Khanchi is cultivated on The fineness also depends on the number of mat danga jami (high land) which is otherwise culti sticks (Khanchi) on the weft side of the J a,ta or vable fallen land wi.th sticky loam.. The land is Hata of 22.9 cms. The maximum number of known as Madur Bari or Kathi Bari. The mat Khanchis on the weft side of a H ata to make the sticks grow out of shoots (rhizomes) but not from finest mat is said to be fifty. seeds. Land near to the homestead, otherwise not used for cultivation, is prepared in March The artisans aver that a household with two April by digging with the help of a narrow but practising craftsmen can produce four to six long Kadal (spade) so that soil is made loose m~lands in a month on an average. With accre upto a depth of 91 cms Dr so. The land So pre ti9Jl of more artisans prouctlon goes uP. The pared is kept undisturbed till the first shower of ar~isans produce both the ordinary and superfine the season in May-June. During the intervening v~ieties , of . mas land, their preference being summer from March-April to l'4ay-June the Sl;l9i)Vtll to the production of ordinary masLand undesiraple weeds and grasses completely dry b(~ca.4Se it requires less time than the superfine up in the scorching summer heat and turn into :v~ri~tY. -The artisans in the three craft-centres natural c_ompost manner. After the first shower ~~.9: I Pr.oquced in 1986 approximately 2,957 pieces of the rains, the land is dug up again with the o~ mw,lanq. (Talda had produced 767 pieces, spade to make it ready for implanting the rhi Sartta 950 pieces and Kholaberya 1,240 pieces). zomes of matsticks which are kept in a basket immersed in water in the residence for about ten During the rainy season a slack period sets in to twelve days. Silt (pank) from tanks is strewn mainly because of diffic ulties in communication over Madur Bah during the second span ding of for the marketing of articles and collection of the land. Pank is also 'scattered during and raw materials. In winter the tempo in produc after plantation of the rhizomes. Rhizomes are tion goes uP because of increase in demand, fr.om planted at a depth of 15.2 cms-in roWs, "'the differ the consumers. ' ence between rows being 15.2 cms, and the space b('tween one rhizome to another being 15.2 cms RA W MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUF ACTURE OF MASLANDS tOoo. Weeding C\n indispensable pa1rt of the culti vation of the matstick plants, is started in June Locally known as Khanchi or Madur Kathi, July and repeated twice or thrice by September mats tick is the basic raw material reqUired in October to remove undesirable growth of grass the production of rnaslandi . A kind of sedge and and other wild shrUbs. Weeding is done manu_ grass-like plant with stems without any JOInt ally. Harvesting of the plant is over by October growing naturally by the sides of marshes, November with the help of Daa (Chopper). The 27 pbnt is chopred at the base leaving in the field Bundles are then taken to the market fOr sale the stubs. The rhizomes are later collected by or stored in the huts for further use by the arti. digging the soil and uprooting the stubs. One sans households. It has been observed that 17 acre of land yields 540 kgs. of matsticks. The artisan househols in Talda and one artisan matsticks are left in the Madur Ban for a day household in Sartta cultivate matsticks on their after their cropping. The sticks are carried home own in the land. attached to thbr liouseholas. in bundles. In the cou·rtYard the ' sticks are While seven of these grower households along . sorted according to size, uneven sficks are with three other non-grower artisan households pruned to size, leaves are separated from the in Talda and 19 non-grower artisan households plants, the damag~d sticks are rejected and the along with the solitary artisan household in outer skin of the plant is scraped With the nails Sartta and all the 20 non-grower artisan house of the fingers. The operation up tOI this stage· is holds in Kholaberya also purchase the Khanchis 1{nown as sorting.... curri-sizing. from markets outside. In the next operation known as sun-drying the SUBSIDIARY RAW MATERIAL sticks are spread out in the open courtyard ex posed to the sun for about an hour to remove From bandIes of yarns (Suta) of cotton thread . the moisture and to soften the sticks to facilitate finer counts of thread (Khi) ate spun out manu easy, quick and perfect splitting. Any negli ally. From one yarn of cotton thread four to gence in this operation spoils the fineness of the five Khis are spun out. Each Khi of cottOn stick. thread is used as warp of the ?has land. This 'ex plains why the artisans sometImes refer r to ,the masland as SuJa madur. Yarn No. 20 is general The next operation is khoWn as 'Bira Bandha ly used by the artisans. (bundling). The Khanchis dried for an hour in sunlight 'become partially dry and attains dura bility. Bunales, prepared acC"ording to size and VEGETABLE DYE length of the Khanchi, are carried to the place of Leaves of a vegetable plant locally known as work. The biras or khanas · (bundles) are then Rang Gaach (Perist.rophe tinetoria) proceSsed in ready for the next operation known, as cherai the form of a powdered dye Is used to dye the (splitfing) :Gi. the -Verandah of the residence. The Khanchi (split strans of matsticks) . to produce artisans of Talda and S'artta call the oundles as maslandi with colourne9. designs. The dye pro Khama and those in Kholaberya call them Bira. duces red or magenta colour. I ' The sticks are then taken out from each bundle CHEMICAL DYE and outer bark of the stick is sliced off with the help a sharp-edged knife (Gej.ia in Kholaberya Chemical pigments in the form of powdered and as in Talda and Sartta) Tinkona longitudi dye is used to colour the Khanchi as a substitute nally into several strands varyirtg' from t four to for vegetable dye. Red pigments are generally six. The inner core of the stick known . as . the used to dye the matsticks. (pith or Anti kenel) is rejecfed. ''the split strands known as K:hanch~ ' are collected. AVERAGE MONTHLY CONSUMPTION OF RAW o J MATERIAL The Khanchis are again spread out in the open A practising artisan household with two prac_ courtyard for re-drying in the sunshine for two tising craftsmen require on an average eight kgs. to three ! days. But the K~an c h.is are kept inside of K hanchi_'·50 grams of chemici;tl dye or 10 grams the residence everyday after dusk. The purpose of ve ge t abl~ dye and 250 grams of cotton yarn 'Of this re:'drying is to remove all moi~ture in a month. The vegetable dyes along with ·ehe fr0m th'e Kh'a'nChis ·and naturaiiy bleach the mical dyes are used by the artisans in Talda and cholorophly . of the outer ~ ide of the ){hanchi. Sartta whereas in Kholaberya the craftsmen ~-\.tse The sundrfed Khanchi assumes a golden tings. only chemical dyes. The vegeflaole plants from The 'KhanJchis are 0 then tied Into bundles, each which the natural dyes are obtained do not grow with a diameter of 30·5 cms· and weighing seven in Kholaberya. The consumption pattern of the to eight kgs. raw materials, main and subSidiary, Is not unL 28 form in the different artisan households. The in Talda, 20 artisan families (including One cul quantum depends On the number of practising tivating craftsman househoJd) in Sartta and all artisans ill each household and' varies in different the 20 artisan families in Kholaberya purchase seasons-of the year. The requirement changes Khanchi (matsticks in split form) from markets according to the demand of the con_sumers for outside., The weekly Hats (open air country mar the product. It h.as been observed-tnat the con kets) in Dasagram and Sabong in the police sta sumption of raw materials is high with the boom tion of Sabong are visited by the craftsmen of in production during winter and summer when Talda and Satta to purchase Khanchi (matsticks, there is a sharp rise in demand from the con_ split into four or six stranas). The artisans of sumers for masland. Again, in the rainy season Kholaberya. however, very rarely visit Dasagram with slump in-the demand for the finished pro for the purchase of Khanchi, as the market is ducts, there is a consequential slackness in pro very far (60-70 kms) frOm the craft-centre in duction of raw materials. The artisans purchase Kholaberya. Instead, the craftsmen of Khola the items of raw materials at a time required for berya throng the Hat at Kushbasan in the police one month or two. station of Narayangarh to buy the Khanchi. The artisans in none of -the three craft-centres collect COLLECTION OF MAIN RAW MATERIALS Khanchi from any Mahajan (Financier) because no Mahajan is found in the craft-centres. As It has already been pointed out that the main such, the system oTsupply of raw material to the raw material is grown by some artisans locally artisans against specified jobs on contract basis is and is also purchased from outside market. So, non-existent. The system of Dadan (advance the sources are tWOfold, local supply and outSide market. payment against stipulated supply of finished products) also does not exist. The Co-operative LOCAL SOURCE Sociecy at Kholaberya not being a producers' Co-operative, it does not take upon itself the Matsticks, used in the manufacturer of 'I7lj(lS charge of distribution of raw materials a~ong land, are grown locally in the craft-centres in the member artisans. . Talda and Sarttf'. In Kholaberya the matsticks used are grown i:i the villages in Narayangarh SOURCE OF SUBSIDIA~Y RAW MATERIALS Police Station. In Talda and saitfa the mat sticks, grown locally, are of good quality and are The subsidi'ary raw materials required the absolutely fit for use in the weaving of masland. manufacture. of masland comprise of Sut,a (Cotton In Kholaberya the local matsticks are used for yarn) and: Rang (dye), the former purchased the production of ordinary coarse rriiits and the from outside market and the latteT grown local local matstricks are not suitable for use as basic ly and/or purchased from market outside. raw material in the production of masl,a:n:d. That LOCAL SOURCE I is why the artisans in Kholaberya have to depend . \ on the matstricks grown in the police station of Narayangarh. In Talda 17 artisan households Rang (dye) is provided by the leaves of a and in Sartta only nine artisan households grew vegetable plant now grown locally in Talda. · the matsticks in their own land locally. Of them, This natural organic vegetable dye was also used again, only 10 artisan households in Talda ma to be collected locally by the artisans of Sartta nage the production of masland with the mat till 1985 but a flood had totally destroyed e:-e sticks grown by them. But, the seven other plants which they grew in thefr homesteads. artisan household$ in Talda and nine craftsmen Therefore, the artisans in Santa interested in households in Santa have also to supplement the the use of the natural dye occa ~ ionally purchase stock of raw materials grown by them locally it from the artisans oj Talda or from th~ market with purchase from outSide. outside. But they have switched over to chemical dyes too like the craftsmen of OUTSIDE MA~KET Kholaberya. The artIsans in Talda collect the leaves of the vegetable plants growing in plentv SinCe local supply out of household cultivation in their househOlds. The artisans do not hav~ does not meet the demands, 10 craftsmen house_ to cultivate the plants but they grow wildly in holds (indudin?" seven ~ower artisan families) abundance, 'J'1?e art~sans prepar~ the natural organic vegetable dye from the dried leaves in PRICE a powdered form. The process will be descr~b ed later. Then artisans use the dye and some_ Khanchi is sold in bundles. A bundle of times sell the surplus tQ the artisans of Sartta. Khanchi weighing eight kgs, costs Rs. 6O.0Op. But, they do not purchase the vegetable dye only. The artisans generally purchase one from outside. In Kholaberya since the vege bundle at a time. The artisans also purchase table dye is not locally available, the artisans 500 grams of Suta (No. 20) and 50 grams of use chemical dye after its purchase from the chemical dye in the powered form. One Mora market outside. (bundle) of 500 grams costs Rs. '7.00 to Rs. 8.00 and the price of one kg. of chemical dye is 60.00. Vegetable dye costs Rs. 50.00 per kg. The OUTSIDE MARKET abundant supply of the main raw material soon after harvesting of the matsticks in October November keeps the price a little low and some FQr the purchase of Suta Jcotton yarn) and artisans try to take a,dvantage of the low price Rang (dye) of the chemical variety the artisans by effecting bulk purchase of Khanchi. But it of Talda and Sartta visit the Hats at Dasagram does mean that the suply is not steady in other and Sabong whereas the crqftmen of Kholaberya parts of the year. ~ visit the Hats in the villages Sadi (adjoining) and Deulihat both in the police station Qf Ram nagar. Subsidia,ry raw material are also pur STAGES OF PRODUCTION chased by the artisans of KhQlaberya from the shops in Deulihat. Sometimes, they al~ visit Production of a mas land is undertaken in the Hat at Dasagram but at times of extreme different stages with the manipulation . of necessity when the materials are not available various tools, implements and equipments to in either Sqdi or Deulihat. Incidentally, vege process the raw materials;" of Khanchi to the table dyes are not sold in any market outside. finished product of a masl,andi. Only chemical dyes are sold there. If th'e craftsman is also the cultivator of matsticks, he splits each stick into 15-20 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE OF RAW MATERIALS, MAIN AND SUBSIDIARY strands far the purpose of further processing, rather than into four to six strands as done by the cultivators who want to sell the produce THE artisans, whether in Talda or Sartta or into the market. But, those who purchase the in Kholaberya, purchase Khanchis in the speci Khanchi from th~ market have to undertake fied markets from the persons who cultivate the further splitting (Cherat) of the matstick matsticks and dispose of their produce in the obtained from the market with the help of Hat themselves. The number of traders who tinkona (knife of the shape! of an arrowhead) deal in the purchase of matsticks from the or teeth or nails. If the matsUcks are a little growers and sale of the products to the artisans hard, they are soaked in wate!" before splittini! Is very limited. The cultivating households as found in Kholaberya. themselves effecting the sale of their produce in the markets, the role of middlemen or COLOURING OR DYEING (RANGKORA) traders is very limited and insignificant. The For the purchase of producing with transaction of sale is always made on payment m~lands coloured designs some khanchis are required to in cash. The material is neither sold by the be dyed Or coloured. As discussed earlier. grower nor purchased' by the artisan on credit. vegetable dye or chemical dye is lJSed' for the rmrpose. The subsidiary raw materials like Suta and Rang are also purchased in· cash in the market In September vegetable .dye is p~ eRared from but never on credit. There being n@ mahajan th: le~ves of .Joc::J.lly f!!'owD: . plant , ~ !lw,.J1 ,gaach). and no system of Dadan the artisans collect the SCIentIfic name of the plant js .Peristrcmhe tincro raw materIals, main or subsidiary, themselves ",a. TI:e leaves are thot'owrly drie,d in, 'the sun and in the Hats and carry them home by road. the dned leave(> are Grush~ under a Dhenk,i i~~. .=...::s ... -" · • ~ r" __ • .:_.:.. : _ ~ .• ~ .50; ' .- " .... r t ... r .", r r ,.. : ~-+ ~ : roo ~~r ,OJ t : : ::, . t o , C: . .I ."; :" -_ :" L'./ . . '. _. _ . ~ -" . • ; - .. _ , .?!"':.~ , , _ ' ,~.!: ,,~ 30 Kpa,d~-hu~n~ l(eaver). The .drushed poWder JKhoHil:>ecya 'tHe artisans have 'no choice other is then strained through a Chalani (Sieve) to 'thah using the cnemical dye. femOve the undesired wor~e particles. The pHWtler 'is stored in small tin-conta,iners. 'j5mWAIiING 'U IE WARP (TAN,A SUTA) ;F I ' . ' ground covering a rectangular area Qf thTee , ,In the case of ;K.hanchis ct>loured in vegetable metres and a half and a little less than twp dye. 'SolutiQn, the bUndle is taken out flfom the metres in the verandah. Then a bamboo pole eart~en pot, palmyra leaves are removed and knoWn 'as Tara (Fron~al ~am) 'of about two ,the, Khanc.kis partly dyed are dried in the, open metrres in 'length is' placed on the outer' sides 'bf sunshine. But in the case of chemical dye the 'the Khutis breadthwisE' and fasteneq to, tHem parti~lly: coloured Khawchis are rem~ved :fr~m 'With l"opes Of c6ir, ' Ott ' the opposite siae bf the vessel and allQwed t() cool down III the aIr. Tara "an'Otl\eT bamboo Pole of ideritical ' Ien'gth Then they are washed in cold water thoroughly l~nlt ~ of l lE>sser ' g1~th ' than the"Tara and'known as and dried in the air. 'Liiti (Rear beam) , IS like\vise ;is < tied : to the two '6tner Khutis horizonhilI'y and parallel to the Inc~dentally it ,may be pointed out that vege- Ta~a. Now ' an"otll'er bamboo ',pole ' known as "'~atna , ~ t~'bl~ 4ie~, though comparativ~ly oostliecr: than (supp:6rtin~ beain) ~ much thicker than either ~heinic;al dyes" , ,PI'Odu~ fast ~ ~urable colour. 'Tara 'or IALti is ' pla'ced on the ground' in ' tne TIle colouring effect 9f chemical dyes does ~ot middle in belwe'en 'Tara "and 'Lati para11elIy. last long. "That is wh;y, the artisans using The loose end of the spun thread is thn passed chemical dyes all"e found to apply a littie com ,throu-gh"the"eve' of a Choonch (Needle) 'and"aJso mOn salt Jo t,he boil~ng col9ured wflter to attain the hole of the Hata' or Jata, sbrtrn~ from:' tT1'e fastness of coloUr. But still vegetable dyes aTe left. The thread is tHen 1b'6ped round 'Paf a con~i4er~ by for the better colouring agent pa~sed ' through the second ' hole of the Rata ~an:d than the chemical one. Because of easy availa brought to the rear 'end for looping round -tne bility and' local.. SJlpply vegetable dyes are pro Lati., 'r.he process continues till the desired fusely used in Talda and Sartta whereas in number of th~eads are inserted through' the 3l.", and three ups through Vial-It 191 holes. Then the- two end_§. . of, the ~ead§ ~e ~e t¥~~ . tried firmly round the La,t"i and Ta.ra. The weaving some other designs the manner of Tana is then taken out and the warp threads ~n~ , the ~, hi , thr()l,lgh1 the, \\IarpAhreads ar~ ' f!-~YV rre,ady !~~ weaving., IncidentaP.y, the ~~Wff1§. Ip. tl~~ , 4~lgn , of S:u_~lt'(l,i , R~L_ (FloWer) distance between Tara a.p.d Lati depen~ on If,bp,n The artisans required different tools and A turning bamboo rod Latai is used by the equipments to process raw materials in diffe artlsans to act like a spool or a reel for twisting rent stages of production. The tool$ and tile cotton thread~ to prep8ire the warp. equipments used by the craftsmen are old, traditional and indigenous but very simple to ClL-lRK.. A OR CHARKI (SPINNING WHEEL) handle and are locally available. In no stage A hOl'izontal spindle which rotate~ with the ofJ production any' mC!.chine, whether operated help of a driving wheel made of wo®.:the manually or driven by power, is used. CharlwJ is used to spin and wind the cotton " tnreaos for the warp. ,J. H A JA OR JATA (REED) '!\uS'~ct ~ t'6 'dig and clear the ground for culti vation of matsticks, kodaL is a tool .of sharp- A piece of wood of two metres in length an,d edged .~on , blande with a wooden handle. O.dU cms. in breadth. 0.4 ems. in thickness and containing 30 holes in a space of 23 ems.• Rata DAO (CHOPPER) is used for passing the cQtton warp t1u"eacls through the holes. The Rata acts like the reed :;i . i ' uSe for cutting the matsticks from the of a weaving loom. The thickness and finen~ s~W~s , d~lring havresting of the plant. Dao is of the mat depend on the number o~ threa4 a sliarp edged iron blade with a wooden passing througn the holes of the Rata. It is an handle. important part of the frame of the loom. TARA (FRONTM.. BEAM) CHHURI (KNIFE) A Straight smooth and hard bamboo pole of An iron or steel blade with very sharp edge about two metres and a half in length wjth a and fixed to a wooden handle, the artisans use diameter of 0.8 ems. Tara is used as the frontal it at resdence to split the matsticks. Two beam tied to two Khuties with eoir ropes. The eypes of knives are generally used by the pole acts as the fro1}tal beam of tht loom from artisans. The knife used to split the matsticks whieh position the artisan starts weaving ~he is traingul8lr in shape and known as Tinkona. masLand.. The cotton warp threads are looped The other knife looking like a SIckle and Over this beam and taken tQ the r~ beam known as Bakano Chhurci (25 ems long) is used through the holes of the Hata. . I .\ to cut the uneven edges or the matsticks on the weft side of the maslar!!di. LATI (REAR BEAM.) Another bamboo pole identical as the Tara is CHHOONCH (NEEDLE) fastened to the two other Khuties on the oppo site side of the Tara to act as the rear beam of thin round long ,piece of pointed steel with f the loom round which the cotton warp threads an eye for passing the thread at one end 'I J " , are wound. This beam holds the rear end of the Choonch is used to pass the threads throngh the holes of J ata or Rata to set set the warp in mat. position. TAN A (POLE TO SUPPORT THE WARP THREADS) 1"J. r ' t PALTI (DRAWING WHEEL) A bamboo pole of the same size but of a: thicker girth than either the Tara or Lati Tana A disc-sha,ped wooden tool with a narrow is placed In between the two beams while the wooden stick protruded from the centre. PaIN warp therads are drawn to support the warp. is lisea by the artisans to wind and twist th~ Once the warp therads have been prepared and thread~ of the cotton yarn for preparing the tightly fastened to T~ra and Lati, Tana is down warp threads. out. 33 PArA (SITTING PLANK) MANIPULATION OF TOOLS AND EQut~'l'S , (J fb .bm,d A plank of wood a little more than a metre _(in The artisans skilfully operate the tools right length) used by the artisan as a seat at the from the storage of cult~vation :t;o finishing staie time of weaving. If weaving is done simul of polishing. All the tools and equipments are taneously from the front and rear ~ides of the manually operated. ' I ' .1' ' loom by two artisa,ns, they require two patas. KHUTIES (PEGS) KODAL , ~' WoQden peg Qf a little more than half a :metre Only the cultivating arti~ , use fui!, tool~ in length with a diameter of 0.8 ems. Kh~tIi is The artisan holds the handle of the KodaL in a driven firmly into the ground to a depth of al tight ~ip with both the hands and strokeSi are most half its length. Four such Khuties firmly made with the sharp. edge of the blade on the hold the Tana and the Lati in position. ground to dig earth. After digging and turning the clods of earth over, the artisan clears ~ MAlAN KATH (POLISHING WOOD) , ground of solid particles. weeds, grass and other undesirable elements with the help of Kodal. A piece of retangular shaped wood 12.5 ems. Kodal helps the artisan make the soil loose and' long and 5.0 ems. broad, with smooth surfaces, ready for cultivatton. Majan Kath is rubbed on the outer surface of ,/I the maslan1di to make smooth and even. This DAO is used exclusively in Kholaberya. The artisan holds the handle of the Dao wth PURUL (POLISHING BRUSH) the right hand tightly and strikes at the bottom of the matsticks with the shaq> edge of rrthe In Talda and S'artta the dry bark Qr thjck blade to cut the matsticks almost at the stumps. outer skin of a local 'tree Purul is used as a poli shing brush to smoothen the surface o~ the mat. eHHURI HtiNDI (EARTHEN VESSEL) The holds the handle of the Chhuri of Tinkona type in the right hand and inserts the tool b;l An eC\lrthen picher used as a container for the middle of the matsticks vertically from the boiling water and mixing powdered dye. Handi top end to the bottom end, holding the matsticks ,alSo ~tQI'es the concoction of dye solution. in the left hand. Different strands of thinner and thinner dimensions qre split from the JHURI (BASKET) matstick with Tinkona. ') A basket made of split bamboos, Jhuri con The artisan holds the handle of the Bankano tains the roots of matsticks soaked in water till Chhuri (curved knife) in the right hand and sprouling and is also used to carry Pank (Silt) placing the curved blade of the knife -on the from tanks to the field where matsticks are extended edges of the maslandi cuts them with cultivated. moderate storkes. DARl (COIR ROPES) CllHOONCH " . The ropes are used for tying the Tara and the The artisan holds the chhoonch in his left Lati firmly to the Khuties So that the front and hand, passes the cotton tbread of the warp rear beams are fixed firrmly and do not move through the eye of the needle with the right sideways. hand and inserts the needle with the thread 68 H.A.-5. 34 thro~p ~~ ho~~s of the Jata also with the right 1 2 3 han~ ' LDlai (Turning wheel) . one piece 5.00 PALTI "' 1 r' "j Cltarka or Chalci One piece 100.00 (Spinning wheel) to !.1 \Vhe tool .,t~ beld in the left hand and the 150.00 artisan twists the cotton threads and winds Khuli (P~g) Four pieces 2.00 them round the Palti with the right hand. TillkD1KI (Triangular knife) . One piece 2.00 LATA I BankallQ ChJuui . ORe piece 2. 50 (curved knife) .' 'f1ie ~isan holds the tool in the dght band KoliaJ (Spade) One pi'ece 25.00 and twists the threads by rotating the Palti Dao (Cbopper) One piece 4.00 with -the left hand and then winds up the twist Choonch (Needle) One piece 1.00 ed 0 thread round the Latai with both the hands. Jhuri (Basket) One piece 6. 00 Dori (Rope) One piece 2.00 The artisan sits before the Charka placed on DIVISlqN OF WORK the ground, twists the cotton thread by rotating the wheel with the left nand in clock_ wise Production of masland involves different stages direction. from cultivation of the matsticks to the final event of polishing the finished proauct. The HATA basic raw material is culttvated by some arti~ sanS, though not all, in the high lands attached The artisan pulls this tool to separate the to the homesteads of the artisans. The artisan_ ~~rp tr y,\\~~~ and ,to b ~~ t up t ~ e K han,chis (after cum-cultivator raise his own requirements by t~ey 'are placed in between the warp threads) cultivating ~~e matst ~ ck l' . B,ut the nan-cultivaL with the Ha.ta handled by the right hand. ing artisans purchase the basic raw material from ~lle market. Sometimes tpe , ,cultivating PRICE OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTS artisans too have to supplement their cultivated stick by purchase from the open market if r I ~e I s ~ arr~e~t ry.~ .bo el c;> ~ fJlrnishes tne price of situation demands so· The male artiSans take tqol~ anrf equipments qSed by the artisal{s. care of collection of raw material, whether by )f t '" r · ~ I cultivation or by purchase. The processing at Statement IV.1 home is do e usualiy by both the male an.d Price of Tonls and Equipments femal ~ artisahs together. But, the sale of the I ~ finished product in the market is undertaken by Name of the tool and equipment Unit Price per the male artisan only who also carries on all unit financial transactions. Rs. Paise .uSE OF NEW TOOLS OR,TEqINIQUES 2 3 The artisans in the three craft-centres follow traditional methods of production, practiSing the techniques for years together from generation to Tara (Front beam) One piece 25 .00 generation with neither anv break, deviation /Ati (Rear beam) One piece 25 .00 nor any innovation. If no ~ew operation has Tana (Supporting beam) One piece 25 .00 been itroduced, it has been So because the arti sans have neVer felt any necessity for the intro Pata (Sitting Plank) Four pieces 40.00 duction of any change in the techniques of pro_ '"aia (Reed) One piece 100 .00 duction. The rudimentary tools and equipments to) 200.0 of very Simple nature in use for ages . ~re still Po/Ii (Drawing wheel) . One piece 2.50 being used with no thought for any adaptation Or chan,ge. The artisans have been used to tradi- 35 tion, usage and custom. Seldom they have given pattern of the masland. The use of dyed Khan any thought to any new approach. Again, no chis produce an effect of colourful designs. outside agency or institution has appeared in the Varieties of deUcate designs invest the mats with craft centre with any message of change or inno an ornamental look and value and make the vation, or with any new ideas or methods eithel product attractive and catchy to the eyes of in respect of techniques of productiQn or intro prospective buyers. Designs may be With: or duction of new tools and equipments or their without col'Ours. The only coloured effect pro_ manipulations. It appears that the artisans duced by the dye, whether chemical or vege closetted in the secure niches of production cen table, used here is that of red or malenta. The tres have not been disturbed by any outside agents of change. designs are either naturalistic (pertaining to the shape and form of natUral objects) or stylised DESIGNS (pertaining to geOmetric motifs). The names and The artisans weave designs on mats to add a descriptions of the designs are given in State. decorative touch to an otherwise drap and plain ment IV.2 below: ST ATEMBN1' 1V.2 Names and DescriptiOn of Designs Name of the design Description Category Remarks 1 2 3 <4 SafhnlPhul A type of local flower of cress Nat"lll'alistic (Flora) Traditional plant Ka4amPhul A type of flower Naturalistic (F1oral) Do Chand Mala A decorative garlaad of Shola Stylised (decorative geometric) Do pith BokulPJud A type of flower Naturalistic (Floral) Do rob Decorative embroidery Stylised (geometric) Do Latika Creeper Naturalistic (plant) Do Namlikha. Lettering stylised (geometric) Introduced two decades ago Khejur Chari Date-Palm leaves Naturalistic (Plant) Traditional Sishal A type of tree Naturalistic (plant) Do Pakhi and Janowar Any birdlaaimal Naturalistic Do Diba COntainer Stylised (geometric) Discontinued for decades KhiJgri Reed Naturalistic (plant) Do "LIIrala A kitcheD vegetable Do Do DummnrPhul Figfiower Do Do (Flower) PREPAMTION OF DESIGNS terous USe of the designs depends on hereditary' skill and tradition of the family. The designs Designs being mostly old and traditional, the used are not all known to an artisan households. knowledge thereof are transmitted from one An artisan learns techniques of the designs used generation to another and bequeathed by father by the family from senior members first by close to son, elder brother to younger brother, husband observation and later by constant practice. De to wife and by mother to daughter. The dex- sign-weaving dOes not call for the application or 36 USe of any special tool or equipment. By arrang. Lettering of names of the person to whom the ement (Jaus) of weft sticks through the warp masland is intended as a gift is to woven as per threads (up and down) designs of the artisan's order and specification of the cust'Jmer. It has choice are woven. Natural objects and flowers been revealed that about twenty five years back are preferre€l by the artisans in the use of de Late Dharanidhar J ana, a master craftsman or signs. No animal motif except the Pakhi, no Sartta, had been requested by the then local natm-al scenery or portrait of a human figure or M.L.A. to wea,ve the names Qf a few national deity is .used as a design. The designs are woven leaders on the maslandis for presentation. Till plong four sides of the mas land on the borders. then, the technique was not known. It was Late Th~ craftsmen do not aSSOciate any myth or Jana who had improvised the technique and gra legend with any design. The artisans normally dualfy in courSe of time other artisans also came c011tinue two designs in weaving a nwsl"nd, such to use it. The customers prefer the designs as ·guShni Phul with Chand Mala, Kadam Phul Sushni Phul, Latika, Sishal and also want names with, Kalka, Kodam Phul with Chand Mala etc. to be lettered on the maslands. t. , .j , ( fl" I I • t, CHAPTER-V I, ,I MARKETING ANNUAL PRODUCTION PURPOSE OF PRODUCTION Masland mat-weaving is basically a traditional Maslands are not manufactured by the crafts rural craft practised within the precincts of the men for self-consumption. So, the article is not residential hut in the quiet varandah by the used for domestic or ceremonial purposes by the head of the family with or without the participa_ 8rtisan househOlds. The article is produced for tion of other members of the family_ The prac the use of customers belonging to various com tising artisans are totally unaware of the me_ munities outside, Invariably in all cases the thods and procedures of financial management, mas~and is made for sale to the clients as utility accounting and costing, even though some of article. The artisans do not have any fixed or them are literate and educated. Figure work is permanent clientele. computed mentally and accounts are stored in human memory whoSe capacity i.g indeed im METHOD OF DISPOSAL pressive. No regular book of accounts relating to stores, production, marketing or sale. cost of The owner-craftsmen produce the articles production, profit Or loss is maintained in a mainly for sale to the residence of traders, written form by any artisan. markets, Hats (open air country markets), local fairs, to occasional indiVidual customers visiting The figures of annual production are there_ the craftmen and also to one Co-operative fore, computed by the artiSans from memory and society. No Mahajmv (Financier) or Paikar are presumably based on rough estimates. Dur (Wholesaler) visits the artisans to purchase the ing 1986 (January to December), the year pre articles in bulk from reSidence. The craftsmen ceding the survey in the middle of 1987. 60 arti are not under any contractual obligation to any sans in the households three craft-centres had particular wholesaler even in the market or Hat produced approximately 2,957 pieces of 'mjaslands, to any stipulated quantum of articles. The the twenty artisans households each in Talda, sen craftsmen are abSOlutely free to bargain and Sartta and Kholaberya having prodUced 767 sell their products to the intending customer, be pieces, 950 pieces and 1,240 pieces of masland res he a retailer or a whOlesaler or an individual. pectively in 1986 (vide appendix Table 48). The price of a piece of masl'1nd varies between Rs. RESIDENCE OF TRADERS 90.60 p. to Rs. 350.00 p. depending on the qua lity and size of the mat. If the mean price of a Some of the artisans personally viSit the resi piece of masland is fixed at Rs. 220.00 p. the total dences of tIie dealers in mats for sale of their valUe of production in the three craft-centres by articles and carry the maslands to Basantapur, 60 selected households had been to the tune of Belki, Chak Badalpur and Dehati in the police " Rs. 650,540.00 p. (contribution of the 20 selected station of Sabong and to Takla, Bakhrabad and artisans families each in Talda. Sartta and Kho_ Narayangarh in the police station of Narayan laberya having been Rs. 168,740.00 p. , Rs. 209,000. garh. About five per cent of the finished pro 00 p. and Rs. 272,800.00 p. respectively): Consi ducts are sold to the traders in their reSidential dering nature of the agricultural economy of the areas. three craft-centres, the economic feat as evinced by the craft is indeed prodi¢ous. The annual productiOn on an average undertaken by tbe selected artisans households in the three craft The disposar of the products is also done by centres turns out to approximately 3,000 pieces the craftsmen on personal visit to tHe of mCLSlands or a little more normally_ markets in the towns of Digha, KOlaghat and 37 38 Medlnipur and also to the cities of Calcutta and are the main centres for the disposal of maslands Haora where ten per cent of maslands produced by the artiSans to the extent of 75 Per cent of are sold annually. total products to the traders assembling there for the purchase of the merchandise. HATS The particulars of the Hats are detailed in The weekly and bi-weeky Hats in the region Statement V.I shown at next page. .( 11 'J , , " " 'of 'I ., " B',· l"d ',' • I il " of' )1'" , "I " , ': I ( ii' 'I (' , ( rd J t: i· -J " f' II # v'J ~ \., ~ .. " • (I I' " , { I , I ' Ii' I " II , ! ',..' , " '( I r , ' . , I , \ ;": ' , ' , ,r ." " I I " '1 , . I. 'I' " I , f ' , 'f \ . , I I " ,;,f' IIJ 1 ~ • " I , or 39 [ -~ .2 ~ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 <1l 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 ~ ~ ~ 0 ~ 8. Vi ...., ~ a a a ~ ...... !:i ~ .;:u 0 0 0 .~ 'a- 0 0 0 0 0 ~ '" :.a 0 0 Q 0 Q Q Q Q ~ ~ C\l Q a ~ a a a a ~ -B8~ '- 0 ..c:: 8 I'l ...... c:: .9 ~ .... ~ ~ 00 :f ~ IlIl IlII :g = OJ 0 0 0 ' 1': 0 ~ ~ ~ .0 ,~ OJ «I= «I 8 ~ Q Q Q = Q .0 ~ l'!. ~ » .0 ~ .0 ~ a a a 8 <'d tn <1l <1l «I OJ ...... til· fI.l fI) 0 Z <1l 8 ~ Z a::<'d !:I ~ a.~ .... .9- .... .9- .... ::s <'d 'tl cu ::s 8 -; e 0. '0 8 ::s 'tl a 'tl <1l OJ <'d 0. a. oS OIl .! Z ~'" Ii> t:Q & cO 'E <;;; <1l ~'" IlIl .",to ... ~ t"1 ."'i e E'" '" :.>l oW 'E ::i2 :s! » ... » <1l » ~ <1l 'tl oS 'g ....1:1 1· ~ ~ «I ~ til .... J t= u ~ .£:: <1l 8· ;.= .~ 8 .... 8 ~ Q 0'0 ... , o I' o 00 I ·1 g ~ · 8 g o 0 o o 800 I ~ FAIRS local fairs and take advantage of the concourse of the visitors to display their fairs and dispose Festivals and fairs also provide a conduit for of the products. The particulars of the fairs disposal of mas lands by the artisans. The crafts men do not, however, foray into distant lands attended by the craftsmen are shown in State to attend the fairs. They normally visit the ment V. 2. STATEMENT V. 2 particulars of Fairs Attendance Craft-centres Name of place where fair is held Occasion Month Duration per day from which artisans attend (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Arjjun in Rarnnagar Police Station in Medinipur district Durga Puja Aswin-Kartick Four 1,000 Kholaberya (September- days October) ____...--~ ... Sabang in Sa bang Police Station in the district of Kartick Puja Kartick On e day 2,000 Talda and Medinipur (October- Sartta November) Belki in Sabang ?olice Station in the district of DUrgaPuja Aswin-Kartick One day 1,000 Talda and Medinipur (September- Sartta October) Dashagram in Sabang Police Station in the District of Kali Puja Kartick One day 2,000 Talda and Medinipur (October- Sartta November) ~------Mangalpur in Ramnagar Police Station in the district of Kali Puja Kartick Three 1,000 Kholaberya Medinipur (October- days November) Digha in Digha Police Station in the district of Medinipur Makar Pous One day 70,000 Kholaberya Sankranti (December- January) QUANTITY SOLD TO DIFFERENT AGENCIES on the ~cene nor is there any lefLover stock of undisposed articles at the end of the year. The articles produced by the craftsmen are sold through different channels. About two per .MARGIN OF PROFIT cent of the products are sold by the artisans The artisans retain a margin of profit to the directly to the customers visiting the craftsmen's extent of 25 to 50 per cent. The margin of profit residences. The artisans sell about five per cent does not vary even during sale to the Co-opera of the articles manufactured by carrying them tive society. to the residences of the traders. About ten per cent of the products are disposed of in different TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE markets and another five per cent in the local fairs. Hats appear to be the important forum for Sale of the articles is always done on payment the sale of approximately 75 per cent of the in cash. No facility or credit is extended by the products. Only eight craftsmen households sell artisans to the purchaSers. their products through the Co-operative society at !.Kholaberya. The Co-operative society ac No sale is effected against Payment of money counts for sale of approximately five per cent of in advance on a contractual basis. The Co the articles produced by the 60 households in operative society too makes the full payment in the three craft_centres. No middleman appears cash at the time of delivery of the goods. 42 PROPORTION OF FINISHED PRODUCTS SOLD increase the margin of profit. There arise oCC:1- LOCALLY AND EXPORTED sions, though not many, when the artisans have to sell the .masland at. . the price suggested by the It. has been ascertained that 10 per cent of the customer. products are exported to the markets outside the district and another 10 per cent to places outside the State but not by the artisans themselves. The rnaslan.ds also face competition with the The disposal of products is done to the extent of mats of synthetic fibres. The l>atter although 80 per cent within the district to different inferior in quality and less durable than the mas agencies as discussed earlier. lands are more colourful, decorative and cheap. As a consequence, the mas·lands do not. find The d,.~mand, whether local or external is fully met as there does not appear to be a shorLfall access to the homes of commOn people who are between production and sale. However, no easily drawn to the synthetic mats. Maslands information is available either from the crafts would have h::id a better market and wider men or from other agencies as to whether Mas lands are exported abroad. The export figure do clientele if the SlYnthetic mats had not posed not cover precise this item. any problem. There· being stiff competition among the mas PROBLEMS OF MARKETING . la:nd weavers, there is lit.tle scope for the arti The Maslands being priced high, the artisans sans to command better price from the custom in sOIl}e cases cannot hike its price further . to . €rs. / . "I CHAPTER-VI CRAFT AND EMPLOYMENT ORIGIN OF THE CRAFT IN' THE CRAFT-CENTRES nise the craftsmen by readily purchasing their products. The craft does proved itself capable The published sources do not have any relevant. of providing rea,d,y o_ccupation · and income to reference to the origin and history of the craft the people and many households joined the in the three selected craft-centres. The local craft on their own initiative. informants too are not very precise historiogra phically. The anecdotes and legends in the The production of masZand mats was intro form of tales somehow enable an enquirer to duced by the forbears of the artisans of the fix up the period of initiation of the craft of present belonging to the Mahisya community masland mat-weaving in Talda and Sartta some which incidentally is the predominant ethnic time' in the la,ter part of the 18th century. The group in the three craft-centres. The induction craft was a late start.er in Kholaberya in the of the Bairagis in the craft has been subsequent second half of the 19th century. The details of and ' has been due to the demonstration effect. how the craft had been introduced in the three The Bairagis saw for themselves how the craft-centres have already been discussed .. in Mahisya artisans had been maintaining their details in the second chapter. families with the income from the craft, They did 'not hesitate to learn the techniques of pro ASSOCIATION OF ARTISAN HOUSEHOLDS WITH duction from the senior Mahisya artisans and THE CRAFT acquire' the requisite skill of graduate them selves into efficient craftsmen. The craft has stood them in good stead ever since. Initial1y, the artisans were drawn to tbe craft under sheer weight of economic fact.ors prevail GENERAL CONDITION OF THE CRAFT DURING ing locally, The basic raw materials grew THE LA.ST FEW DECADES! abundantly in the land, attached to the' home steads. "What the artisans were required t.o do A probe into the figures relating to the house i was to put the raw materials ~ to proper use. holds associated with'! the ' craft ' in' the. past The necessa,ry skill and training had been im decades as also a discussion with senior craftsmen ported by the pioneer master craftsmen to the al1(i knowl€dgeable informants will lead one to new entrants. Besides, there was a steady market the' inevitable cOhclusion that mat-weaving has too for the finished products, not far off from proved itself · a viable alternative to cultivation the production-centres. Besides, in 'those days as' ~ art ; occupation to practising artisan hbuseholds the landeod aristocrats, zemindars and· officials in the three craft-centres. This view will get of the British Raj were connoisseurs of arts further suppdtt from the employment figures and crafts ·and had the ,€(:onomic means to patro- since 1941 presented in Statement VI. 1. STATEMENT VI. 1 EMPLOYMENT FROM 1941 ONWARDS ------Name of the craft-centres Period No. of practising . Charge in Souree· artisan households percentage 2 3 4 5 Talda 1941-50 10 LocaJ enquiry 1951-60 15 +50' 00 Do 1961-70 20 + 33' 00 Do --._ ------43 44 STATE YIEN'T VL l-colltd. 2 3 4 5 ---- -.- - .... ------TaiGa 1971-80 22 + 10 ' 00 Local enquiry 1981-86 25 + 14' 00 Do At Present 31 +24·00 Do Sartta 1941-50 5 Local enqui ry 1951-60 10 +100· 00 Do 1961-70 15 +50' 00 Do 1971-80 20 +33' 00 Do 1981-86 - 22 +10' 00 Do At Present 25 +14' 00 Do Kholaberya 1941-50 10 LOCal enquiry 1951-60 15 +50· 00 Do 1961-70 20 +33' 00 Do 1971-80 30 +50·00 Do 1981-86 45 +50' 00 Do At Present 61 +36'00 Do All craft centres 1941-50 25 1951-60 40 +60' 00 1961-70 55 +37·05 1971-80 72 +30· 09 1981-86 92 +27' 08 At present 117 +27'02 ------._--- . EMPLOY.MENT SINCE 1941 craft-centre next to cultivation. That is why, the pursuit of the craft is not constricted to a The table highlights the aceretion of partici limited number of households. The. earnings pating artisan households in different decades from the craft in the context of the restrioted since 1941 in a steady and systematic manner. resource position of the village and compared . The progressive trend in the growth of artisan to the income from agriculture are quite. attrac~ households would never have been possible, haa tive to the craftsmen. Even educated persons the craft ever passed through · a crisis in the do not avert from this occupation. The easy intervening period. If more. and more house availability of raw material grown locally also holds had opted to join other craftsmen in does not beset the craftsmen with any problem different decades, the reasons were not far to in so far as procurement of raw material is con seek. The craft had established itself in the cerned. The finished products being in constant village-economy as an assured and potential demand in the primary markets located near the source of gainful employment to the members of craft.-centres, the craftsmen are not at all worri the village community. The plausible explana ed about prompt disposal of what they produce. t.ion for the households pursuing the vocation The processes of the craft are attended to by the inheres in several factors. head of the household aided by the members of the family. The craftsmen do not engage any Since the health of the craft is moderately labour on hire. Wages remaining unpaid, the good, many households consider the craft to be mas~(Jtnd is manufactured at a low cost by the the only alternative venUe of employment in the members Of the artisan households. Besides, the 45 craft does not demand the outlay of considerable there is no reason to apprehend any sudden capital. The artisans do not have any difficulty break from the present state of affairs. in continuing the craft as an occupation .o f the family at a low cost. ATTITUDE AND OP INION OF' THE CRAFTSMEN UNEMPLOYMENT The artisans are unanimous in their opinion that the craft has proved to be a secure, steady It is indeed a revelation that masland weaving and lucrative source of income to them. The has not left any sCOPe for the new entrants in craftsmen are all contented with the present the labour force to remain without nn occupa state of the craft and do not ever dream of leav tion. Only one Mahisya unemployed youth, ing their present occupation. They find their aged 26 years, has been found in one artisan vocation quite profitable economically compared household in Talda. An able-bodied young man to very limited avenues of employment and with education upto School Final standard, the sources of livelihood in the context of the agra_ said youth has no aptitude for ~ither cultivation rian economy of the region. The artisans do not or mas land mat-weaving, the hereditary occupa face any problem in selling their products. Ra tion of the household. He has received no ther, they find that they do not have to carry training in the craft and hqs, therefore, acquired back home even a part q.f what they bring to the neither any skill nor experience. For the last fiv e market for disposal by sale. The easy-going years he has been looking for a white-collar job craft has generated an invincible faith in the with fixed income but without any success. He minds of the artisans that their children can is not interested in any work involving manual sustain themselves well by pursuing the craft. labour. He has registered himself in the Employ There is no reason whatsoever for their children ment Exchange but is yet to get any call for an not to follow in the footsteps of their fathers. interview from any employer. The returns from the craft are so assured that any secession from this occupation by their The unemployed young man is an exception. children will not only be a foolish proposition But for him, no other person has been found to but also will be fraught with disastrous conse_ be without a gainful emp~oyme nt . Invariably, quences especially when cultivation is ruled out cultivation and the craft have come to the aid of by many in the absence of ownership of culti the youth seeking an occupaUon. The role of the vable lana: Even the heads of five non-practis_ craft in the crafLcentre in providing a vocation ing artisan households who had to seVer their to the people is remarkable indeed. connection with the craft due to intervention of personal factors like lack Of manpower (caused THE PRESENT STATE OF THE CRAFT by SUdden bereavement of wife or by offer of employment) and shortage of capital want their The prognosis about the craft will lead even Children to resume pursuit of tne craft. They a hard pessimist to believe that the craft's health opine that their children sliould not go in for is farthest from stagnation. The craft is nOW full other occupations when the craft is in a robust economic state. of dynamism and is in a good working condition. I The review of the last four decades attests to the steady influx of artisan households to the fo ld of the craft. The craft is practised by husband and DEVELOPMENT OF THE eRAF'].' FOR GENERATION wife together along with other members at OF MORE EMPLOYMENT different hours of the day and even at times after tWilight hours. The minors too at moments Mat-weaving as a craft has occupted a promi lend helping hands to the elderly mem bers when nent place in the ecOnomy of rural West Bengal they require such assistance. The craft is based and more so, in the district. of Medinipur. Mas on exedusive labour of the members of the lan d is a superfine variety of mat the weaving family and does not involve hired hands from of which is done on a restricted scale by a outside. The artisans admit that their economic limited number of artisan households in a few condition has much improved and are happy places including the selected craft-centres in with the economic returns. Considering all the district of Medinipur. The craft has some this, one cannot but admit that the craftsmen potential for providing the rural people With and the craft are having a smooth sailing and some means of livelihood. To develop the inheL 46 ent capacity of the craft to absorb more people, only increase the yield but will provide suffici it is imperative to develop marketing facilities ent raw materials to the neophyte weavers who and assist the craftsmen With financial credit. will jo'in the craft after proper training. Initially The craft can create additional opportunities of to start the craft a:6resh, an artisan requires Rs. employment to the rural young people provided 1050,1 _ to meet the costs of tools, equipri1ents and the product is populariSed widely among the raw materia,ls and a recurring annual expendi customers in urban areas. Increasea demand ture of Rs. 500/- as circulating capital. In view of will give a spurt to production. Training on a this every new unit will reqUire at least Rs. limited scale may induct some young peC) ple as 1500/ _ to start production. To augment self new entrants. The cultivation of mat-sticks on employment the investment of this money IS a wider scale and on a .scientific basis will not imperatiVe for ervery new craftsmen. CHAPTER,NIl CONCLUSION VIEWS OF THE C~AFTSMAN ABOUT THE CRAFT their children must bear the mantle of crafts manship when their turn comes. The non_prac_ Once an item of luxury among p4>tentates. tising artisan households who were forced to kings , emperors, Nawabs, Zemirrdars and aristo leave the craft for want of capital Or manpower cratid Jagirdars, m.a.sland had a great . tradition or because of the intervention of some personal apt to make the artisans of,the present genera factors do none the lesS share the optimism of tion , proud and nostalgic. But with farewell to the practising artisans about the craft's health the royal personages and with the passage of and future. 'l'hey too want their children to take mi:ghtly dynasts to the grave, masland did not up the Lost threads of the craft and 'weave t~e follow suit and pass into oblivion to become an warp and weave the woof' of the masLa.nd 111 archaic showpiece -in the museUms alIild archaeo_ future. Obviously, the longing of these people logical galleries. The piece of art has instea-d. for their children to stage a come-back has not crossed the threshholds of many houses of the solely been induced by their blind infatuation laity and fascinated thenearts of the commoners but by the inbuilt vitality and strength of the and the rich alike. The craft has come 1;Q stay craft to sustain their children. The practiSing and stay with a flourish. artisans are a contented group and do not have any contemplation far joining any other oCCUPil_ tion. This accounts for so little occupational The artisans feel that with a steady demand mobility in the artisan households. The practis_ and with a matching supply the Tun of the mar ing artisans as also their successors are deter ket has not gone against . them, If the products mined to carry forward the oPerations of the manufactured by the artisans are instantly dis cr~ft even to a distant future. posed of, what more can an artisan hope for? The ' craft is passing through a good phase in all PROBLEMS OF THE CRAFT the craft-centres. In the craft-centres where agriculture has limited scope ' for the emploYable Despite a good going of the craft, the artisans yout.h force to slave for a livelihood, mas land have some problems and difficulties :which mat-weaving has prOVided a glimmer in the deserVe even a passing referenCe. The methods tunnel to a section of the people to love an occu of prodUction right from start to finisn are old, pation enabling them 1;Q 'live upon their daily traditional: and Even archaic, The tools arid rations. The craft has proved in the past to be implements too are very crude and indigenous. a steady sourCe of .income and a dependable Lack of finance prevents the artisans from pur. means of 'livelihood. ' The present too is a conti chasing and storing raw materials at regular nuum of the past trend. Hopes of the artisans ineervals. The price of mat-sticks, the basic have not been blown out by any unsavoury turn raw material, is also rather high, because of in the craft's fortunes. The youth too haVe not limited cultivai'ion. The artisans crippled by turned thoughtless and committed the blunder financial limitation cannot hold large stOCks of of leaVing the' craft. The young and the old alike finished products to sell them .at a higher price are aVerSe to a mObility frOm this occupation in future. Lack of bargaining power has not presumebly becaUSe of llack of any alternative enabled the artisans to haVe any effective say in livelihood capable of c!:rallenging the returns the market or to determine the price Of sale to ensured by the craft to the artisan followers. The their advantage. The craft-centres being not invincible faith of the artisans in the craft's directly connected by either a motorable road future is, So well entrenched that the old artisans or even an all-weather road, the artisans face cannot even think of any occupational break even immense difficulty and hardship to take their in the case of their children, They wish that finished production to the Hats and market.s and to 47 48 purchase raw materials in the rainy season. Mats duct goes up, a consequential rise in demand for from synthetic fibres manufactured in Surat in raw material is a foregone conclusion. To cope the State of Gujarat pose a challenge as com with the. demand there is need for production of petitor to mas land. 'Tne market is limited to more raw material at low cost in more areCls the States of West Bengal and Orissa. Even if a task which cannot be accompli~hed without the there are clientele outside, the same is not known attention of agricultural SCientists. The approach to the artisans. roaQ.s to the craft-centres require improvement to facilitate the movement of transport to the hearts of the craft-centres for easy transportation REMEDIAL MEASURES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS of raw material to and of finiShed products from there. The sale price of product should be It is felt that both the StaTe and Central Gov rather moderate to suit every pocket. But, it can ernments have to come forward with more help be done only if the cost of manufacture per unit and encouragement in a planned and effective product is minimised. The reduction in the {,ost manner to eable the artisans to meet the increas of manufacture is linked with maximisatiqn of ing demands ot' consumers, to maximise profit to production which can be achieved in the faCe of increase productivity, to stimulate further invest the a boost in consumers' demand for the pro ment after generation of more income and sav duct. ings, to orient the artisans in the efficient use of manpower, tools and implements. Besides, sale GO'!ERNMENT MEASURES SO FAR TAKEN price should be related to actual cost of produc The office of the District Magistrate, Medinipur' tiOn taking into account unpaid wages for the had suggested in 1972 that a large provision for labour of the family workers. financing the handicraft Co-operatives shoud be provided in the State budget. It had also re The tools Dnd implements may be redesigned commended that to ease the seasonal marketing to improve their efficiency and the same can be problem the purchase programme of the Market sold to the artisans at a cheap rate in easy instal ing Section of the Cottage and Small Scale In ments by the Government. The Government has dustries Directorate, Government of West Ben to organise the artisans to form multipurpose gal should be extended and designed in such a co-uperatives to attend to marketing of products way that purchase by the mat-marketing Section and grant of credit. New avenUes for sale of the is done throughout the whole year instead of products are required to be opened up by orga purchastng at the fag end of the year. nisi~g exhibitions, starting sales' emporia in important cities and towns. Maslands are in The Cottage and Small Scale Industries Direc need of a wide publicity to make the people torate of the State Government has already ex aWilfe of the product. AWareness of the public tended help and encouragement to tfie artisans by exposure to ' the product On sale or display through a number of schemes in the field of will stimulate a craving for 'its purchase. All organisation, research, techniques, finance and India Handicrafts ' Board, Khadi Gramodyog marketing in connection with mat-weaving in CommissiQn and similar agencies may look after general. It has also adopted a scheme fOr the the aspects of quality control and standardisation overall developmenf of the craft in matters of of the products, apart from purchasing the pro organisation of Co-operative Societies for the wel ducts fl.)r sale through them. The artisans may fare of the artisans, exploration of avenues for be trained to produce fine maslands according procurement cif raW materials and inducement to the tastes and requirements of modern con- to ~ugment production of raw materials, deve sumers. Trlaining-cum-production centre may. lopment of tlie methods of productIon with the train and educate the craftsmen in modern help of modern tools and implements, organisa methods and techniques of production. Agricul tion of markets for the products of the craft ture Departments has to attend to the scientific inside the country and if Possible, outside the and modern methods of cultivation of mat-sticks, country, and development of transport system the basic raw material. If demand for the pro- for despatch of finished products to the markets. Note: 1. 'Midnlpore-Progress and Problems'. Office of the District l'yfagistnte, Midnapore, 1972, pp. 50. 49 The Experimental Workshop-cum-Research their handiwork has the magic touch of fine Institute, Government of West Bengal at Barui artistry, deft fingering and imprint of imagina pur, South 24-Parganas has also been preoccupied tion. These weavers constitute a special category with the development of mat_weaving in general preoccupied with the production of :.in item for and its Mat Research Wing is excluSively con a select group of gentry and customers. The im nected with experiments regarding methods of portance of the craft cannot be overestimated 111 production, tools and equipments. It is presently an environ of the rural economy with constricted engaged in the designing of a small reed to avenues of employment. With a little more atten produce maslands for use as dinner mats or tion and tending care from the Government and window_curtains etc. But, no specific measure lovers of art the craft has the vitality_and poten has been taken about mas land mat-weavers nor tial for further development leading to more have the cOncerned artisans ever approached the gainful employment to the rural people· The concerned departments and institutions for effec basic need of the craft and the artisans is wider tive assistance. Lack of interaction between the publicity to acquaint the general public with the agencies of development and change on the one . product. Without increased awareness of the hand and the artisans on the other has failed to people there cannot be any expansion of the bring in any neW message of change in outlook. craft and induction of new hands to COPe with taste, techniques and tools. the rising demand. The craft at present is nevertheless in a heal FUTURE PROSPECTS thy state. There is no possibility of the craft to die out nQw or even in remote future. But one Medinipur district is out and out an agricultural interested in the welfare of the artisans and the district and industrially less developed. Weaving prosperity of the craft wiH always welcome of ordinary mats is pursued as an occupation by steps to help and encourage the craffsmen to an estimated number of eight to ten thousand blend tradition and modernity j .u~Hciously. The artisans, if not more in the district of Medinipur scope of machines is practically nil in the area of alone. The artisans engaged in the production of the oraft. Besides a mechanical infiltration is m~lands constitute a very insignificant, proper likeJ.y to spoil the subile beauty of the product tion to the general mat-weavers. The number of impregnated with the mild touch of hand and ordinary mat_weavers in the State as a whole, fingers. The craft and the craftsmen, wise enough according .to informed sources, is t..1iirty to forty to understand the negative rqle of machine, thousand. Against this background the masland have throughout trod the beaten track and ~ill weavers pale into total insignificance even though do $0 in the ye~rs to come. 68 H.A.-7. BIBLIOGRAPHY Author Publication 1. Bhattacharjee, Nilkantha -Mahabhagabata Beng. Translation Calclltta, 1887. 2. Bhattacharjee, Tarunadaya - Medinipu r -CaIClltta-198 7. 3. HUnter, W. W. -A Statistical Account of Bengal, Midnapore, and Hooghly, Vol. III-London, 1875 (p. 46) 4. Macdonell and Keith - Vedic Index of Names and subjects-London, 1912. 5. Mitra, A. -District Census Handbook- I 951 Midnapore (Part xciv), Calcutta-1954. 6. Mitra, A. - The Tribes and Castes of West Bengal-1951, (p-32) and (p-533- 535), Calcutta 1953. 7. 0' Malley, L. S. S. - Bengal District Gazetteer-Midnapore, Vol-B-Chapter-XII (p-542), Calcutta-1911. 8. Porter, A. E. - Census of India, 1931. Bengal and Sikkim. Vol-V, Part-I Report-Appendix (p-308), Calcutta-1933. 9. Risley, H. H. - The Tribes and Castes of Bengal. Ethnographic Glossary Vol-I (p-51), CalClltta-1891. 10. Ray, B. - District Census Handbook-1961. Vol-I, Midnapore-(p-62), Calcutta 1966. It. Roy, P. C. -Mahabharata Eng. Translation, Calcutta, 1958. 12. Whiteney, W. D. -Atharva Veda Samhita-Eng. Translation (A.V -138.5) Cambridge, 1905. . 13. Mat Weaving-Type study - State Statistical Bureau, Govt. of West Bengal, Calcutta-1964. 14. Handicrafts of West Bengal -A booklet published by the Directorate of Industries (Cottage Section) Govt. of West Bengal. 15. Contemporary Crafts in West Bengal - A booklet published by the Directorate of Industries Govt. of West Bengal. ' 16. Monograph on Selected Crafts of Kerala -1961, Part VIlA (p-145-146) 17. Monograph on Fine Mats ofPattamadai - 1961 Part-VIIA-Tamilnadu. 50 APP£',NDIX-] TABLES 68 H.A.~. 53 PRAcnSING HOUSEHOLDS TABLET-DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION CLASSIFIED BY SEX AND MARITAL STATUS Never Married Married Widowed Divorced or Unspecified Total Separated Population Age.group -"'--...... ,.--"'--...... --"--...... ,---'---...... r----A-...... """'-...... P M F P M F P M F P M F P M F Per- Males Fe- sons males 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 1.3 14 15 16 17 18 19 0--4 54 33 21 54 33 21 5-9 57 3l 26 57 3J 26 10-14 56 28 28 56 28 28 15-19 SO 28 22 8 1 7 58 29 29 20-24 17 15 2 2S 4 21 42 19 23 2$-29 4 4 3S 17 18 ' 1 1 40 21 19 30-34 2 2 19 11 8 21 13 8 , 35-44 39 20 19 1 1 1 1 41 20 21 45-54 22 10 12 4 2 2 26 12 14 '(' 55-69 28 20 8 4 1 3 32 21 11 70+ : 6 6 2 2 8 6 2 Age not atated Total 240 141 99 182 89 93 11 3 8 2 2 435 233 202 ~ T.AIIL£ 2-D1STRIBUTioN OF POPULATION CLASSlF{ED BY AGE, SEX AND EDUCATIONAL tEVEt Educational level ~ Total Population group nUterate Literate primary or Middle Marticula. Non-Tech- Teebllic.al Graduate without Junior tion or nieal dip- diploma or and aoo.... e educational Basic Higher loma or certifi- level SeconcWy certificate cate not not equal equal to to degree degree p M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 0-4 54 33 21 32 20 1 1 5-9 57 31 26 7 9 24 17 10...14 56 28 28 7 17 16 11 5 .. .f • 1$-.19 58 29 29 4 9 4 13 6 6 13 1 2 20-24 42 19 23 12 4 4 7 3 5 2 3 2 25-34 61 34 27 1 16 11 2 11 7 2 2 7 2 35+ 107 59 48 12 40 24 5 18 3 3 2 Age not stated - ---,--_._------_. -- Total 435 233 202 56 113 85 58 53 24 23 5 14 2 2 TABLE 3-DlSTRlBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY RELIGION, CASTE/TRIBE/COMMUNITY, SEX AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Number of household by educational level of head of household.., Name of Religion Name of castel Number of household by nIiterate Literate Primary Middle Matrieuta- tribe/community sex of head of household without or Junior tion or .., Bdueatio- basie Higher M F nallevel Secondary 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hinduism Mahisya 57 1 8 27 16 4 3 Do Bairagi 1 2 4 3 Total 58 \2 10 27 16 TABLE 5-DISTRlBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFlED BY NATURE OF RELATION OF MEMBERS TO HEAD' OF 11IE HOUSEHOLD AND NUMBER OF MEMBERS Nature of relation of members to head of the household Number of Number of households members 2 3 Self :' '1 Self. Spouse 1 2 SOlf. Spouse. unmarried Sons & Daughters 26 139 .Self, Spouse. Married Son, Son's wife, with or without unmarried Sons & Daughters . 10 109 Self, Spouse, Married Brother, Brother's wife, with or without Sons and Daughters 7 86 Self, Spouse, Unmarried Brother, Unmarried Sons & Daughters. widowed Mother 3 16 Self, Spouse, Unmarried Sons & Daughters, Mother, Father, Sister 1 7 Self (Female) Unmarried Sons & Daughters 3 13 · " Self, Spouse, with or without Unmarried Sons & Daughters and widowed Father 1 1 Self, Spouse, with or without unmarried Sons & Daughten; & widowed Mother . 6 44 , Self. Spouse, Unmarried Sons & Daughters, wife's Sister, Unmarried Sister, Father, Mother, .BrOther's Son, Brother's wife, Father's Brother, Father's-Brother's wife...... , 2 12 " : ::p, Other (specify) Total 60 435 56 1'ABLIC '-DtSl'RIUUTlON OF HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY TRADmONAL OCCUPATION RELIGION AND CASTE TRIBE/COMMUNITY OF HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOW Number of households where traditional occupation of head of the househol d ------, Name of religion Name of Castel Number of ,------"-Traditional Traditional-- tribe/community households occupation. occupation. Cultivation Devotional Songs 1 2 3 4 S ------_------Hinduism Mahisya S8 S8 Hinduism . Bairagi 2 2 Total 60 S8 2 TABLE 7-DISTRlBUTlON OF HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY NUMBER OF WORKERS AND BY MAIN OCCUPATION DIVERSITY (i.e. DlFFERENT MEMBltRS HAVING DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS) De8Crlption of occupational diversity Number of households Number of workers ------1 2 3 No occupational diversity . 45 141 Occupation 1- (Head of household) occupation-2 (wife) Occupation 1 (Head of hou ---_- , --~-----~--- Total 60 229 TABLE a....HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY SEX, BOARD AGE-GROUP AND SUBSIDIARY OCCUPATION IN RELATION TO HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD Number of house , . .. holds having subsi diary occupation ~-, Age-group Sex Number of Number of Subsidiary ,- -. household households having occupation M F no subsidiary Cultivation occupation 1 2 3 4 5 6 0-14 15-34 18 2 20 18 2 35-S9 32 32 26 6 8 8 8 60 + , , A.IP not stated' Total S8 2 60 52 8 ------57 TABLE 9-DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS AND NON-WORKERS CLASSIFIED BY SEX, CASTE/TRIBE/COMMUNITY AND BROAD AGE-GROUP -_------Number of workers and- __ ---A--. _____ --. All ages " 0-14)yeaIS --. r---- -..A------. Name of the caste/tribel Total Workers Non- Workers Non- community population workers workers r-- --A-- - --. ,..-..A----. ,.--..A----. ,.--.A---. .-.A-----. P M F P M F P M F P M F P M F \ ,~ Ili l --- I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 is 14 15 16 Mahisya 423 227 196 224 109 115 199 118 81 8 7 154 89 65 Bairagi 12 6 6 5 1 4 7 5 2 1 1 4 \.;1'" 2 -- _ --- I Total 435 233 202 229 110 119 206 123 83 9 1 8 158 91 i - fir ct , 1, -J:I'I t , I t I II oon-worken by agc..group ---~------15-34 years 35-59 years 6O+ycars , ~--!-l r------~------. Non- Non- NOll- Workers workers Workers , __workers..A----. Workers wodtcrs r---.A..~-"""",, ,---'----. ..A-_--. ~ r---A----. p M F P M F P M F P M P P M F p M F 17 18 19 20 21. 22 23 24 25 26 21 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 123 S6 67 34 24 10 72 40 32 6 6 21 12 9 5 5 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 125 56 69 36 26 10 74 41 33 6 6 21 12 i 6 6 58 T~ ' to-DISTRIBUTIoN OF WORKERS AND NON-WORKERS CLASSIFIED BY SEX AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL Total population Number of ...... A...... Educat~le'fef Workers Non-workers ...... ,----"--,. Persons Males Females Persons Males Females Persons Males Females 1 2 3 4 S 6 7 8 9 10 mttcratc 169 56 113 83 12 71 86 44 42 .literate withoutoducatiooal _1 143 85 58 62 40 22 81 45 36 PrimarY 01 Junior basic 71 S3 24 61 40 21 16 13 3 . 'Middle 28 23 5 11 8 3 17 IS 2 Matri~ Higher 16 14 2 10 8 2 6 6 Non-tccbDical diploma 01' "- c:ertitcatc ootlequaJ to degree ' Tecbnioal diploma or cortffi- tate GOt equal to dogrcc Graduate and above 2 2 2 2 Total 435 233 202 229 110 119 206 123 83 ,,' ul j ''/1 d. i i , ' 59 o N .....N ..... t- .....o " N t- o 0 00 '"...... I ! I " ~ til t55'" C -I':~ -1': ..... f:-< ~.2 . ~ ~.2 ~ .0-_ til ....<::s 0 - <::> :-8 2. '~ ~ §".~ ",,,;.. oj u- , ..,uc3 es ~ A 1:-<0,-, £-< 3 60 TABLE-12~DlSTRIBUTION OF WORKERS BY PRESENT OCCUPATION, TYPE OF OCCUPATION AND OTHER OCCU PATION FOLLOWED IN CASE THE PRESENT OCCUPATION IS SEASONAL - - - _ ._._------Present occupation Nmber of Number of members reported occupation members noted in Col-1 as ,---' -----"------. Seasonal Perennial - .. ~---.-__'----~- 2 3 4 ------. ------~-- Mat Weaver 207 207 Cultivator 17 17 Service . 2 2 Salesmen 1 Shopkeeper 1 School Teacher 1 1 ---- '--. -.------,---- Total 229 229 TABLE-l3--DISTRlBUTION OF WORKERS CLASSIFIED BY SEX, BROAD AGE-GROUP, MAIN ACTIVITY AND SUBSIDIARY OCCUPATION Number whose main occupation is Sex No. of Workers ha ~~. Age-group c-_A-~ Total no. of ving subsidiary oc- Occupation and M F Workers cupation also having Subsidiary occu ,----______~ ______-- ______pation·culti~ationv----- 2 3 4 5 6 0-14 8 9 15-34 56 69 125 2 2 35-59 41 33 74 6 6 60 + 12 9 21 Age not stated ;,h Total 110 119 229 8 8 -_ ------. _. _.. _---_ ._------_ '. 61 TABLE.14-DISTRIBUTION OF NON·WORKERS BY SEX, AGE AND TYPE OF ACTIVITY - - ... ------~ ~ . ------_._---_-_ --_ Number of non-workers by type of activity and sex - ---, Age.group Total number of Infant Full time Household duty Seeking Any other non-workers student employment Dependent r- r----l'------, r-~ r--"--. r--"--. r--"--. Persons Males Females M F M F M F M F M F 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 0-14 158 91 67 39 27 48 31 4 9 15-19 25 19 6 17 2 2 2 2 20-24 8 5 3 5 3_ 25-29 4 2 2 2 1 30-39 1 1 1 40-49 2 2 2 50-59 2 2 2 60+ 6 6 6 Age not state Total 206 123 83 39 27 71 33 12 12 11 -----_--_._--_------_------_._.. TABLE IS-HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED ay BROAD AGE-GROUP, PLACE OF WORK AND DURATION OF WORK IN THE HANDICRAFT IN RELATION TO HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND OTHER MEMBERS _ .___ ._------Duration of work Number of house- Number of persons Part of the dwelling house where in the hanoicraft holds engaged in the other than head of ., handicraft household engaged Number of head of Number of persons in the handicraft the house holds en other than head of gaged the household engaged ,-----"------. M F 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0-14 Less than 5 years 6 6 5-9 years 2 2 10-19 years 20- years ._----- 15-34 Less than 5 years 2 14 2 14 5-9 years 4 6 27 4 6 27 10-19 years 14 2 12 25 14 2 12 25 20 + years 1 ._------35-59 Less than 5 years 5-9 years 10-19 years 5 6 5 6 20 + years 27 5 26 27 5 26 60+ Less than 5 years 5-9 years 10-19 years 20 + years 8 3 9 8 3 9 --- Total 58 2 30 117 58 2 30 117 ----- _ ._---- 63 TABLE 16-PLACE OF WO RK OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY AREA OCCUPIED AND NUMBER OF PERSONS WORKING THEREIN Place of work Number Occupied area of the place of Work of persons engaged .-______.A. in the craft Less than 3 Sq. 3.5 Sq. mts. and number 6-10 Sq. mts. and number 11-16 Sq. mts. and number mts. and number of persons working at the of persos working at the of persons working at of persons work place of work noted in place of work noted in the place of work noted ing at the place of Col. 1 Col. 1 in Col. 1 work noted in Col. I -----.-----"""'t"-~ ,----"----""") , ___A.__----, ,---.-"------, \ Single 2-5 6+ Single 2-5 6-10 11 + Single 2-5 6-10 11 + Single 2-5 6-10 11+ ------_.------._ . _- - - I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Part of the dwelling house 207 1 142 50 4 6 3 Workshop (a) Owned by-the household • (b) Owned by others Training-cum-pro duction Centre (a) Owned by the household (b) Owned by others Any other 207 142 50 .. 1 4 6 ._------Total ------3 TABLE 17-HOUSEHOLDS OWNING PLACE OF WORK CLASSIFIED BY AREA OCCUPIED AND NUMBER OF PERSONS WORKING THERE IN ,...-______Number of hou sehold---A--_s having occupi ed___ area """) Place of work owned Number of Less than 3 sq. 3-5 sq. mts. and number 6-10 sq. mts. and number 11-16 sq. mts. and number by .the household \ households mts. and number of persons engaged of persons engaged there- of persons engaged therein owning of persons enga herein in place of ged therein c-~ .--. ___.A__. ___...... work ,~ noted in col. 1 Single 2-5 6+ Single 2-5 6-10 11 + Single 2-5 6-10 11 + Single 2-5 6-10 11+ ------.-~----~.--~~------1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 -17 Part of the dwellina house. 60 1 47 7 1 2 1 1 (207) (1) , (142) (50) (1) (4) (6) (3) Workshop Training-cum-pro duction Centre Any other ------_._ ------Total 60 1 47 7 1 2 1 1 (207) (1) (142) (50) (1) (4) (6) (3) 64 TABLE-IS - DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS CLASSIFIED BY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEAD, PERIOD ENGAGED IN THE CRAFT AND NATURE OF WORK PERFORMED Number of persons engaged in the craft' who are related to head as ,----- _ • .-A- _____ .______,_ __. __ ~ Number Self (Head of Wife who Son who Brothers who Sons's wife Period engaged in the craft of persons household) who performed performed performed performed engaged performed in the craft All All Ail All All ope ope ope ope ope rations rations rations rations rations ------~ .... --~ r---A--. r-----"--. ,--A...--... ,----A--. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Less than 5 years 22 7 1 4 5-9 years 42 5 12 3 2 4 10-19 years 62 20 16 8 4 8 20+years. 81 35 20 5 2 ---_. Tota] 207 60 55 17 9 16 . ----- . . _---_._ - Numbers of persons engaged in the craft who are related to head as • ____ ...A..- ___ .______•• '._-, .__ _..__ , _ _,. _!""'"') Brother's Brother's Brother's Father's Father's Wife's Daughter Father Mother Sister wife son daughter Brother Brother's Sister who who who who who who who who wife who who performed performed performed performed performed , performed performed performed performed performed All All All All All All All All All All operations operations operations operations operations operations operations operations operations operations ~ c---"---, ...---A.~ .-----J'--. ,-~ ... ~ .--"---. c----"--...., .--"---. r-"--,...... 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ' 32 ._-- - - 9 9 5 1 1 2 2 2 2 12 2 1 1 20 2 12 7 4 1 1 1 1 .. ... ~-- -- . - Notes: All operations (1) Siezing and Binding (2) Splitting (3) Colouring (4) Wanding (5) Weaving Designing (6) Finishing-(polishing artd cutting the edges). 65 r'"0 l ~ E 'ii) 0 I gtb ~ , ~ .r:c: o I :?; ';;j I ~ t: -M ..c:a ~ o M _ I 00 N - ....o ...... 0 co .....'" .,...... OJ ..c: ..c: ...... 0 oj .... J.l< t:t\ .... co .... .... o "0 ~ 'ii) u ~s 00 ..c:.t:: ~1:lIl .... c:: .... N ,_~ : ojs - rn t: L ...... c:OJ l ~ .... 00 ...... I'i'" 00 o rn .... '; a r E-< - ~;>, f 0\ 00 VI ...... -.:t 1o \ .... I 66 I" r o N 00 ,"" ... I I I I I I I 67 TABLE 21~DlSTRlBUTION OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEAD THE PERSONS IMPARTED TRAINING, PElUOD OF TRAINING AND REMUNERATION ---- -,,- - --- Number of persons engaged in the craft who received training from Relationship witb ,------Fatbcr Mother ~------.Brother Husband the head Number r ___.A.. -. ,-..A-. ---. ~ - -. r----...A...----. ...---"-- -. of Lesa LeSIl than 6 Less tha n 6 2 + yrs Less than rel'lons than 6 6-1 year 2+ yrs months 6-1 ye ar 2+ yr. months ;5-1yr5 6 months engaged months 6-1 yrs in the 2 + yrs. craft ___.,,___,__....__...- .... _.,_ -- - .. ------~-~----~-----~--~----~--- ORO R 0 R 0 R. 0 R 0 R 0 R 0 R 0 R 0 R 0 R 0 R ~--~-.... -----.-----'-- -- - ~------2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 .. ------~. ----- ~ ----....---_._----'-.-- .. -- ~-- ---Self 60 3 Free 41 Free 1 Free 6 Free 2 Free . . 1 Free ser- se;r- ser- ser- ser- ~er- vice vice vice vice vice vice Wife 55 2 4 2 Free 44 2 ~er- vice lVlothcr ]2 2 10 " Duaghter 20 " 13 5 Son's wife 16 .. .. 11 FS Brother 9 8 Sister 7 4 " .3 " Son 17 17 " Wife's Sister Brother's wife 4 3 FS Brother's Son Brothers D aughter Brother's Brother Father's Brother', wife FS Father 2 2 .. Total 207 6 96. g .. 12 .. . . 2 . . 2 . . 70 ------. ---.-~------_ NOTt: '0'- Stand for Obligatory 'R'-Stand for 'Remlll1er;i. tion F.S-Pree Service 68 HA-IO 68 TABLE 21-DlSTRlBUTION OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEA D THE PERSONS IMPARTED TRAINING, PERIOD OF TRAINING AND REMUNERATION- Contd. HUlLband's father Husband" Mother Wife F ------o R ORORORORO R ORORO ROR ORO R 0 R 0 R o R ------27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 ------_ ----- . . 1Free .. 2 Free .. 3 Free .. ser ser ser vice vice vice J FS 2 FS 3 . . 2 J • . 2 3 . , --.- _._------69 TABLE 22-ASSESSMENT OF TRAINING RECEIVED BY THE PERSONS AS RELATED TO THE PERIOD ENGAGED IN THE CRAFT, AVAILABILfrY OF BETTER TRAINING FACILITY AND INTEN'IlON TO RECEIVE BEITER TRAINING Period engaged ill the craft Number of per Number wbo consider the training Number reporting availability of Number in SOIlS engaged received is better training facilities favour of in the craft -, r- .,..,..__-----~ I_A._~ Adequate Inadequate Description Description Received better of better training of better train- tr -- ~ -- . - 2 3 4 5 6 7 Less than 5 yrs. 22 22 22 5-9 years -42 42 42 10-19 years 62 62 62 20+ years 81 81 81 --_-_ - _. _. Total 201 201 201 ------_.--_._------'- TABLE 23-HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED RESTRlCUON FOR IMPARTING TRAINING TO PEOPLE AS RELATED TO PERIOD ENGAGED IN THE CRAFr Period engaged in.the craft Number of house Number of house Number of house (in respect of the holds engaged holds reported holds reported rest head of the houllehold) in the craft having rictions for imparting training to people ~_..A...--.., r-----'----, Restriction for No restriction for imparting training imparting training 2 3 4 ------Less than 5 years Nil Nil Nil 5- 9 yean; 5 Nil 5 10-14 years 20 Nil 20 35 Nil 35 Total . 60 Nil ---._._------_.. _------_- ~ ._____--- 70 TABLE U--DISTRIBUTION OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEAD AND SOURCE OF AQUIREMENT OF SKILL Relationship with Number Number, reperted having acquired skill through the head of persons r----.--~~~. ------engaged Method Method Method- Method- Method- Method- Method------,Method- Method- in the Father Mother Brother Husband Husband's Husband's Wife Father's Neigh- craft (As hom~ (As home (As home (As home Father Mother (As home Brother bour apprentice) apprentice) apprend- aDpren- (As home (As home apprentice) (As home (As tra in ce) tice) apprentice) apprentice) apprentice) ee) - ---_.- -_.__ --_._---- 2 3 4 5 6 7 5 9 10 11 Self (Head of the house-hold 60 44 7 2 2 3 Wife 55 6 3 46 Mother 12 2 ]0 Duaghter . 20 14 6 Son's wife 16 11 3 2 Brother 9 8 Sister 7 4 3 Son. 17 17 Wife's Sister Brother's Wife 4 3 Brother's son Brother's Daughter Father's Brother Father's Brother's wife Father 2 2 Total 2f17 102 20 2 72 3 2 2 3 ------_._-_------ TABLE 2S·-DISTRmUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS MANUFACI1.JRING HANDICRFATS ITEMS FOR PURPOSE AS RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD , ------_ ._------'--' Educational level of the N"me of handicraft Number of house Number reporting he;:d of the household items m,..nufactured hold manufacturing purpose for which handicraft items the particular items is ,--~_ . _..A--_-") Sleeping .. _-_-_._------2 3 4 - ' ---_.__ - - nliterate Mflsland Mats 10 10 Literate without educational level 27 27 Primary or Junior basic 16 16 Middle 4 4 Matriculation or Higher Secondary 3 3 Nont ~ chnical diplom'! or certific'l.t.; not equal to degree Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Gradua te and above . Total 60 60 - -_._------. __ -_._ ------_._--_._-_--_-- 71 TABLE 26-DISTRlBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS MANUFACTURING HANDICRAFT OBJECTS BY NUMBER OF ITEMS MANUFACTURED IN A MONTH AND SEASONAL VARIATION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE ITEMS AS RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLDS ------Educational level of the Name of handi Number Number, reporting numer of items manufactured in Number of house heal of th~ household crafts items of house a month holds reported manufactured holds _____.A-_ ------.--. having seasonal v ~~r i manufac Less than 10- 25 26 -50 51-100 loo-i- alion in the pw - turing 10 duction handi , -----"----- ...... , crafts Number Increase items oi in summer hou s~ - and w:nter hol:1 season Decrease in rainy season -- . ------~--- - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 JIIiterate . Masland Mats 10 10 10 10 Literate without educatio nallevel 27 27 27 27 Primary or Junior basic 16 16 16 16 Middle . 4 4 4 4 Matriculation or Higher Secondary 3 3 :I 3 " Non technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Techllicai diploma or certi ficate not equal to degree Graduate and above ------Total 60 60 60 60 ------_. _-_._ .. _------ I 72 fABLE 27-AVERAGE MONTHLY CONSUMPTION OF RAW MATERIALS BY SEASONAL VARIATIONS FOR MANU FACTURING DIFFERENT ITEMS OF HANDICRAFT CLASSIFIED BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD Of HOUSEHOLD EJucationallevri of Name of handi Number Average monthly consumption Number reported having seasonal varia hfad of the household craft items ma of house- of each raw materials ,ions in the Consumption of raw materials nufacture holds r------"-----, manufac- Matsticks Threads Colour Number Matsticks Threads Colour turing of house r-"---, r--'---.. ~ handicraft holds Increase lncrease Decrease Items in wiater in in Rainy Summer Season 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ------~----~- -. JIIiterate . Masland Mats H) 11 Kg. 330 gram 110 gram 10 10 10 lO Literate without educational level 27 13 Kg. 300 gram 100 gram 27 27 27 27 Primary or Junior basic 16 15 Kg. 300 gram 100 granl 16 16 16 16 Middle 4 10 Kg. 300 gram 100 gram 4 4 4 4 Matriculation or Higher Secondary 3 16 Kg. 300 gram 100 gram 3 3 3 Non-technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Technical diploma or certi- ficate not equal to degree Graduate Total 60 6SKg. 1.530 gram 510 gram 60 60 60 60 TABLE 28 -~A W MATERIALS USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF DIFFERENT ITEMS OF CRAFl' CLASSIFIED BY AREA .FROM WHERE PROCURED BY MODE OF TRANSPORT AND PROBLEM FACED ------_--- Number of households which house procured raw material from Number of households ,------A---..., ,------, reponed having faced Name of raw material Number of Area and brought to the site by means of Area and brought to the problem (or procuring used for making in households 1) Dasagram 2) Khusbasan 3) Sadihat site by means of the raw material handicraft items using the 4) Kharagpur 5} Beldab I) Dasagram 2) Ta1dah raw materia' tree 3) Sadihat r-- --.. r------"------, r--~----, 1) On 2) By 3) 00 4) By 5) By On On On 1) High rate of In- (o Pt bus foot bus bus foot foot fo ot raw material adeq .. - ate bus service 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Raw material--l Mat stcb 60 4 ') 20 20 20 20 60 60 Raw material- 2 Thread 60 20 20 20 60 Raw material-3 Colour 60 2() 20 20 60 - --- 73 TABLE : 9-TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HANDICRAFT ITEMS AND NEW TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS INTRODUCED CLASSIFIED BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD ------Educational level of Name of Number Number of households reported making use of the head of the the handi- of ,.------A.. -_._ ------, household craft items house- manufac- holds Knife Needle Bamboo Bamboo Reed Charka Palti Waler Oven Brush lure manu- stalk!; pot factur- ing handi- craft items 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 I I 12 I y Iltiterate Masland 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 I " Mats Literate without educa- tional level 27 2],- 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 - 7 27 Primary or Junior basic 16 16 16 It' 16 16 16 16 if> 16 16 Middle 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ..} 4 Matriculation or Higher Secondary 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 :>- 3 ~ 3 Non technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Graduate and above . Total 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 ------..-- 74 TABLE 30-DESI GN USED IN THE M Al'i UFACfURB OF HANDICRApT ITEMS CLASSIFIED BY THE PERSON WHO PR,EPARED THE DESIGN, HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD, PERIOD WHEN I NTRODUCED AND EDUCATlO:'l"AL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Number of households reporting design as traditional and is in use since , -. Educational level of the Name of design 20+ yrs and prepared by head of the household ,- -. Num- berof Self Wife Dau- Son's Bro- Sis- Son housbold ghter wife ther ter manu- factur- Less than 10-: 9 yrs ingthe 10 yrsand and prepa- items prepared by red by ,---.A. _ _. r- -- ~'-- - -. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Illiterate ChandmaJa, 10 10 8 5 2 3 Kadampbool , Khejar chari, Sushhiphool, NamJekba Literate 27 27 25 9 9 3 4 9 ~ Primary 16 16 16 4 5 3 . ) 5 Middle , 4 4 4 2 Matriculation 3 3 2 2 ------~ ----- Total. 60 60 55 20 16 9 7 17 Number of household reporting design as non-traditional !!Od is in use since Less than 10 yrs. 10-19 yrs. and 20 + yrs and prepared by 20+ yrs and p,'eparcd by and prepared by prepared by r------~~~~--~------~~_. ,----....A..------. ~ -. Br0- Bro- Bra- Fath- Fath Wife's Fat- Mot- Self Wife Son's Bra- Bro- Fat- Fat Mo ther's ther's ther's er's er's Sist- her her wife ther ther's thcr's her's ther wife son Dau- Bro- Bro- er wife Bro- Bro ghter ther', ther's ther ther's Wife wife 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 10 8 2 2 5 27 25 9 3 2 5 16 16 5 3 2 5 4 4 5 3 2 2 1 _--_ .. . - _ __ .. ~------~--- -_~--_ _ _ ----~ -- -' - -'- - 4 2 12 60 55 16 9 4 .1 2 -. ------~-_- .. _-- _... _-_--- -_-_ .. - .. ------. _------15 TABLE 31-DESIGN USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF HANDICRAFT ITEMS CLASSIFIED BY MYTHS AND LEGENDS ASSOCIATED AND RELIGION, CASTE/TRIBE/COMMUNITY OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD --_._----- Religion/caste/tribe/community of the head of the household Name of design used by the Number of households mak household ing use of the design ~------.~------,Religion Caste/tribe/community 1 2 3 4 Hinduism Mahisya Lata, Sushniphool, Chandmala, S8 Kadamphool, Kalka, letter ing (Namlekha) .. Bairagi Do. Total 60 TABLE 32-REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION NEW DESlGN CLASSIFIED BY PERIOD, AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD ------_--- Educational level of Number of house- Name of design used Number of households Number of households reported the head of the hold engaged in the by the household r----...... _-...... having introduced new design since household craft Continua- Introduc- ...... tion with ed new Less than 5 -9 yes. 10 + yrs. the tradi- design as 5 yrs. due due to due to tional noted in to consu- design as col. no. 3 mer's noted in Lettering choice col. no. 3 (Namlekha) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 llliterate 10 Lata, sushniphool, 10 10 10 Chandmala, Kadam phool, Kalka, let tering (name kha) Literate without educational level 27 27 27 27 Primary or Junior basic 16 16 16 16 Middle 4 4 4 4 , I Matriculation or Higher Secon '.. dary 3 3 l Non-technical diploma or certifi cate not equal to degree Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Graduate and above Total 60 60 60 60 ------~ 68 H.A.-U. 76 TABl.,J3 33-REASONS FOR INTRODUCING NEW DESIGN CLASSIFIED BY, PERIOD AND BROAD AGE-GROUP OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Bsoad·age group' Number of house- Na·me of design Number of house- Number of households reported holds engaged in used by the hold having introduced ne.w design the craft household , -"---, since Continuing lntrodu- r-- -, with the ced new Less than 5-9 Yi"". 10+yrs traditional design as 5 yrs due to due to design as noted in due to consu- noted in col. 3 mer's col. .3 choice 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0-14 Lata, Sushinphool, Chandamala,-Ka- dam phool, Kalka, lettering (Nam- lekha) 5-34 20 Do. 20 20 20 5-59 32 Do. 32 32 32 60+ 8 Do. 8 8 8 ---- Total 60 60 60 60 TABLE; l4-NUMBER OF HOUSElt()~ MANUFaCtuRING HANDICRAFT ITEMS CLASSIFIED BY QUALITY PR(}Ii){)Jf:ED PURPOSE FOR WHICH PRODUCED AND RELIGION CASTEl TRIBE/COMMUNITY OF THE HEAD . . OF THE HOUSEHOLD R(:ligion/ca&te/tribel Name Nqp}ber Number of households reported having producid cohlmunity of the 'ofthe of. ---. head of the household bandi- bouse- Quality 1 (Per annum) 1-50 Pes Quality 2 (Per annum) 5O-lO0 pes . ~-'---""'\ craft hold r------.~ ---, Religion Castel items manu- Entirely. for the Entirely for the use gf other Entirely for the Entirely fliJf. the. . . ·tribe/ manu- fat:!ur use of craftsma'll/ . communities and sold against uS'e of craftsman use of other Commu- factured ing the communities for r--'-~-_"_----""-' community for communities nity items ~ Cash Kind Cash Others r-----A----, and sold against Domes- Ceremo- & kind Geremo- Domes- Ceremo- r-.A.-, tic nial nial tic nial Cash Kind purpose purpose punpose purpose 2 3 4 5 6 7- . 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ------.------__ ------Hinduism Mahiya Masland 58 33 2S Mat Bairagi 2 1 - " 1 Total 60 34 26 .--- TABLE 35-NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS MANUFACTURING HANL>IORAFT ITEMS CLASSIFillD DY:PLACE ,OF'SM,E OF ARTICLES NUmber of houshold rep'orted earring sale the articles at Market I Hat Number 'of Insid~ the Name of'handicraft items households village Satta Outside the village at Other village manufactuting (Name & held the items r-~----~~------~------~~------, Other Village Town (Name) City (Name) Weekly (Name) Digha-lO Calcutta-5 Dasagram--4Q Basantapur--6 Medinipur-5 Belki-30 Badalpur--4 Sabang-l0 Dehati--4 Sadi-20 Deuli-20 2 3 4 5 6 7 Masland Mat 60 5 14 15 60 ------______----______~------~-----, -----.,__J___ ..~ Mela (Occasion) Kartickpuja, Durgapuja Mela (Occasion) Dur,gapuja" KaJipuja Rathajatra Makar Sankranti , r--- _..A.-.---, r------...... t , , j ", ~--, -, Other Village Other Village Town~ (NapJ.'e) Inside the Village & held (Name) and Town (Name) & held (Name) & 8i held ' Sabang, Belki, D:lsagram held held Digha Avjuti, Balisal ,------_"-_----, ,~ .. , ".-----,..,._---~., ~ Weekly Quarterly Half Yearly Yearly Monthly , Quarterly Half Yearly Yearly Yearly yearly yearly ._------_-' ------2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 40 20 20 ------ TABLE 36-HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY QUANTiTY OF FINISHED PRODUCTS SOLD AND CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH IT IS -DISPOSAL OF' PROPORTION ------Name of Number of Quality sold by house Number of households 'disposed of the finished products thi-ough finished households holds in bread ranges , ,r- -,r--- -___,..._____-, -,-, products manufac ,_'------.J.,.._-, Directly to the consumer Middleman in - - Co-operative Society produced turing the ~ ~ items Broaded No. of , __~, __---A...--.----, r .,A_____~ ranges households 1 %-50% 51 %-100% 1 %-;-50% 51 %. 100 1""':3000 Pes . ' ,o-i-' % 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Masland Mats 60 2,957 pes. 60 90% 10% 78 TABLB 37-TERMS AND CONDmONS AND MARGIN OF PROFIT RELATED TO SALE OF FINISHED PRODUcrS THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS CLASSIFIED BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HE;\D OF THE HOUSEHOLD ------Number of households sale Co-operative Society ,--____the items .A. through ..... ------Educational level of t~e head of the Name of Number of Name of the Society Hadhram . household hanoicraft households Directly to the consumer at Loan to Margin of items manufacturing the margin of profit Consumed Profit handicrafts from in items r-----.....___ -- ...... Society Profit 25% Profit --- Advance 25% Payment ---.-:------1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1. llli tera te Mas-lane Mat 10 9 1 1 2. Literature without educational level .. 21 23 4 4 3. Primary or Junior .. 16 14 2 2 4. Middle .. 4 4 S. Matriculation or Higher Secondary. .. 3 2 1 6. Non-technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree .. 7. Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree It 8. Graduate & above .. Total 60 52 8 TABLE 38-PARTICULARS OF FINISHED PRODUCTS SOLD LOCALLY/EXPORTED CLASSIFIED BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD ------_------Number of households reported' Quantity sold in broad ha,;ing sold Educational level of the head of the household Name of Number of ranges finished handicrafts households ,---_..A.._____ -, products items manufac .---v--- ...... turing the Broad ranges Number of Locality items ------1-3000 pes --_._----.--_household 1%-100% 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jlliterate Masland Mats 10 374 Pes 10 10 Literate without Educational level .. 27 1440 Pes 27 27 Primary or Junior basic .. 16 842 Pes 16 - 16 Middle .. 4 1.'1 Pes 4 4 Matriculation or Higher Secondary 3 150 Pes " 3 3 Non-technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree. .. Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree It Graduate an!! above .. Total 60 29S7 60 60 79 TABLE 39-PARTICULARS OF HOUSEHOLDS WHICH REPORTED TO HAVE MET THE DEMANDS FOR FINISHED PRODUCTS AND THOSE WHICH HAVE NOT MET THE DEMAND WITH REASONS THERE OF CLASSIFIED BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD Number of household~ reported to Name of Number of have met the demand for finished products Educational ]':vel of the head of the household handicraft household ,-..~-----"-- ...... items manufac- Local demand to the Outside demand to the turing the extent extent items .A._...... -r----"----~ ...... Partially Fully Partially Fully 2 3 4 5 6 7 ------TIliterate . Masland 10 10 10 Mat Literate without educational level .. 27 27 27 Primary or junior basic .. 16 16 16 Middle .. 4 4 4 Matriculation or Higher Secondary .. 3 3 3 Non-technical or certificate not equal to degree Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Graduate and above ----.-...... ------'--~------~------Total 60 60 60 TABLE 40-DETAILS OF HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED FACED PROBLEMS TO DISPOSE OF FINISHED PRODUCTS CLASSIFIED BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD ------Number of house holds reported having faced problems to dispose Educl tionallevel of the head of the household Name of Number of of finished product handicr~fts items households manu r-due__ to ..A- reason___ , ...... facturing the items High price of article ------~------2 3 4 ------,-~-----. ------Illiterate ---_._--- Maslant:l Mat 10 10 Literate without educational level '27 '27 " Primary or Junior basic .. 16 16 Middle .. 4 4 Matriculation or Higher Secondary .. 3 3 Non-technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Technical diploma or Certificate not equal to degree Graduate and above. ---- ,, ------Total 60 60 ------~---- . -80 TABLE 41-DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD REPORTED ABOUT STARTING OF THE CRAFT IN THE VILLAGE CLASSIFIED 'BY BROAD AGE-GROUP OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Number of house hold reported the Number of house starting of the Broad age.group of the head of the'household holds engaged in craft in th e village the craft before 1900 1 2 3 0-----14 -15..:..'34 '. 20 20 3S-59 32 32 60+ 8 8 Total 60 60 Sf o oN ...,N . 00 , &· 1 N l ' ....0- I 00.... ....'" .... ,I ... I g ! ~ . .... I~ 00 o.... N 00 ...N .... I TABLE 43-HOUSEHOLDS RE:PORTED ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY RELlGION CASTE/TRIBE/ COMMUNITY OR THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND THE METHOD BY WHICH ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRAFT Religion Caste/tribe/community No. of house Households reported having holds engaged associated with the craft in the craft ,--______through. __ A- ______• Hereditary Skill Influence of local artisan 2 3 ------4 5 Hinduism Mahlsya S8 S Bairagi 2 2 " Total 60 S8 2 TABLE 44-HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY :PERIOD ENGAGED IN THE CRAFT WITH REFERENCE TO CRAFT STARTED IN THE VILLAGE Period the household Number of Number of households reported about engaged in the craft households starting of craft in the village since engaged In c------"------. the craft 86+yrs 1 2 3 Less than 5 yrs S-9yrs. 20 20 lO-19yrs. 12 :32 20+yrs. 8 8 Total 60 60 TABLE4S-HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED HAVING IMPROVED/NOT IMPROVED THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS WITH REASONS THERE OF CLASSIFIED BY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Educational level of the head Number of Number of households reported about their of the household households economic position engaged In the craft r------~.------~Improved due to ...____ ~ .A_ . _____ ---. (1) Profitable business (2) Ready market for finish products ------2 3 Illiterate 10 10 Literate without educational level 27 27 Primary or Junior basic 16 16 Middie 4 4 Matri.culation or Higher Secondary 3 3 Non-technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Graduate and above Total 60 60 83 TABJ.E-46-HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED THE CRAFTSMEN BEING LOOKED DOWN UPON AND CLAIMED THE SAi\JP. TO BE THE REASON FOR DISCOURAGING THE YOUNGER GENERATION FO.R. ENGAGLNG/THEl"f SELVES IN THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY RELIG ION CASTE:TR!BEKm,lMUNlTY OF THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLDS AND DETAILS OF CHANGE OBSERVED IN REGARD TO THIS ATTlTUDE Rdigion Castell: ibc l Number of Number of household s reported craftsmen Number of commu li ly households being households engaged in ~------A------l rtyported tbe craft \fot looked Looked down upon by t he ila ving notice down l'pon Society ill the area and bY the Society , _____. _____ A ______--., in thecrafr Consi dering Considering it No change In it not responsi- responsible rile attitude ble for di sco u- for discour- in regard to raging the aging tIll) looking down younger gene- younger gen- upon the ration from eration from craftsmen b~ engagingthem- engaging the peoplein selves in themselves thepresent ' the craft in the craft day 2 3 4 5 6 7 ,-----~-- ,--_._------Hinduism. 58 58 58 Bairagi " 2 2 2 ------~-,------.---,--- Total. 60 60 60 , TABLE47-HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED ABOUT YOUNGER GENERATION OF THEIR COMMUNITY TAKiNG/NOT TAKING INTEREST IN THE CRAFT WITH REASONS THERE OF CLASSIFIED BY RELlGfON CASTE.' TRIBE COMMUNITY OF THE HEAD Of' THE HOUSEHOLD . ------Religion Caste/tribel Number of Number of households reported Number of community households about the younger generation households engaged in the ,- ..A... _____ --., reported about craft Taking interest Not taking the younger in th e craft interest in generation the craft taking interest in the craft due to r---..A..__ --., Profitable business 2 3 4 5 6 Hinduism Mahisya 5S 5S 58 Bairagi 2 2 2 Total 60 60 60 .---__ ------~ - _------.-~--. - 68 HA-12. 84 TABLE 4S-NON·PRACTISING HOUSEHOLDS DISTRIBunON OF POPULATION CLASSJFlED BY AGE, SEX AND MARITAL STATUS Age·group Never Married Married Widowed Divorce or separated Total population .-----A...--.-, ,.--A---, ,~ ,~_;..___-, r -.A.---, Person Male Fe· Person Male Fe· Person Male Fe- Person Male Fe- Person Male Fe- male male male male maie 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 0-4 4 2 2 4 2 2 5-9 6 2 4 6 2 4 10-14 6 2 4 6 2 4 15-19 3 2 2. 2 5 4 20-24 3 3 3 1 2 6 4 2 V-29 3 3 3 3 SO-34 2 3'-44 1 45-54 5 3 2 5 3 2 55-59 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 70+ Total 22 10 12 16 8 8 2 1 1 40 19 21 TOTAL 49-DISTRlBUTION OF POPULATION CLASSIFIED BY AGE, SEX AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL ------Educatioal level Literate , ._____ -A ______., Illiterate without Primary of Middle Matriculation educational junk r basic or Higher Age-group Total Population level Secondary ~~ r--'--, ._"A.---, ,A, ,____..A...__ ...... Person Male Female M F M F M F MF M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 0-4 4 2 2 2 2 5-9 6 2 4 1 1 1 2 1 10-14 6 2 4 1 1 3 15-19 5 4 3 1 ~24 6 4 2 1 I 25-34 5 4 1 3 1 35+ 8 4 4 2 4 2 -- - -.- --;- ,------.. - - . ~ Total 40 19 21 6 12 4 4 7 5 2 ... -. -_------85 TABLE !lO-DIS1RllilJ1l0N OF HOUSEHOLDS ClASSIFIED BY AGE AND SEX OF HEAD OF lHE HOUSEHOLD Al'iD NUMBER OF MEMBERS Age of head of Number of household Number of households having numbers the household by sex of head of the , ______--'A__ ,______household Single 2 3 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-12 Male Female 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Below 20 20-29 30-39 . 1 40-49 1 1 50-59 3 2 1 60 and above Total 5 1 3 ---1 TABLE 51-DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY NATURE OF RELATION OF MEMBERS OF HEAD OP THE HOUSEHOLD ANH NUMBER OF MEMBERS - - - "_ --_ --- Nature of relation of members to head of the household Number of Number of households members 1 2 a 1. Self 2. Self, spouse 3. Self, spouse, unmarried sons and daughters 4. Self, spouse, married son and son's wife with or without unmarried sons and daughters 4 37 5. Self, spouse, married brother, brother's wife, with or without unmarried sons and daughters 6. Self, spouse, married brother, brother'S wife, married son, son's wife with/without unmarried sons and daughters 7. Self (Male) unmarried son;daughter . 3 8. Self (Female) unmarried son!daughter 9. Self, spouse, with or without unmarried son/daughter and widowed father 10. Stlf, spouse, with or without unmarried sonldaughter and widowed mother 11. Self (Male) unmarried Brother/Sister 12. Others (Specify) Total 6 .o!() :86 TABLE 52-DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY MIGRATION STATUS WITH REFERENCE to PLACE OF BIRTH AND REASONS FOR MIGRATION ------Number of households which have Migration status with reference to place of birth Number of migrated due _ household to ,-----"----.. Service 2 3 A. Non-migrant (Born in the vi llage) 3 /' B. Migrant I. Born oLltside the village but in the same dist rict Rural - Bi rkota- .. 1 Urban- 11. Born outside the district but within the State District- l (Name) Rural- Urban- District-2 (Name) Rural- Urban- HI. Born outside the State State-I (Name) Rural- Urban- State-2 Rural- Urban- ther including un specified o ------Total 4 1 87 TABLE 53-DISTRIBUTION OF HOU5EHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY MIGRATION STATUS AND DURATION OF STAY IN THE VILLAGE WITH REFERENCE TO HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Number of houscllO lcls where duration of stay in the vi llago of head of til e Migration statu; witn reference to place Number of household j~ of birtn households r- - ~~..A..._ _ ___ - Non- Lc~s tball 1-5 6-10 11-20 20+ Migrant 1 )'ear years years years years ~------1 2 3 4 5 6 7 \"'""---' ------,------, A. Non-Migrant (Born in the, village) 4 4 \8. Migrant 1. Born outside th" village but in the same district Rura\--Birkuti1 1 Urban.- II. Born outside tile district but within the State District -1 (Name) Rural-. Urban - District-2 (Name) Rural- 11L Born outside the State State-l (Name) Rural- Urban- State- 2 (Name) Rural- .' Urban ~----. -~ Total 5 4 1 -,------,._ ------_- rAilLE 54-DISTRlBUTION OF HO USEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY TRADITIONAL OCCUPATION AND RELIGION, CASTE TRlBEjCOMMUNlTY OF HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD ------" _._----- Number of house holds where tcadi • tiona} occupation Name of religion Name of caste/tribe/ Number of of head of the conmlUnity households household is .----~"'" Cultivation _------2 3 4 ._-_------'--._ Hinduism . Mahisya 5 88 TABLE 55-DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS AND NON-WORKERS CLASSIFIED BY Number of Name of the Total Population,.------All ages-- ---_._-_._------0-.14 years . { __.-A..."_ _ __"_~"""" caste/tlibe/ ,.-----~,.----~ r---~----.~ community P.rSOns Males Females Workers Non Workers NOD- workers workers r---"--. ,---..A.---, r--"---. r--"--, PM F PM F PM F P M F ------~~------___..,.__-_--- - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 IS 16 ------____o ______Mabisya 40 19 21. 11 11 29 8 21 16 1 9 Total 19 21. 11 11 29 8 21 16 1 9 t I SEX, CASTE/TRIBE/COMMUNITY AND BROAD AGE-GROUP ,.-----workers and non-workers.------by age-group .---- 15- 34 years ,.--______35-59~ years __._o _ _. 60+ years r------~-----_. --. VVorkers Non- VVorkers Non- VVorkers Non workers workers workers r---.A.- - _. ,----.A."____. ~-~-~~ ~-~--~ r---..A. __-. ,_---"--, P M F P M F P M F P M F P M F P M F ------17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 ------_.. _----- 7 7 9 1 8 4 4 3 3 1 7 7 9 1 8 4 4 3 3 1 1 ---_.__ ... __ ._.. .., ------89 TABLE 56-DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS AND NON-WORKERS CLASSIFIED BY SEX AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL ._------Tot'll population Number of workers Number of non-workers ,-__. _ ,_J....-.-___ ~ Educational level ..A...- "----l A '-., r-- r---- - _ Persons M ~. l e s Femo. les Persons Males Females Persons Mc.les Females - _._ _-- _. --- - - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 Illiterate 18 6 12 3 3 15 3 12 2 Literate without educationll l level 9 5 4 2 2 7 3 <4 3 Primary or Junior basic 11 6 5 5 5 6 5 4 Middle S Matriculation or Higher Secondary 2 2 1 6 Non-technical diploma or c,r- tificate not equal to degree 1 Technical diploma or certiff- cate not equal to degree 8 Graduate and above Total 40 19 21 11 11 29 8 21 TABLE 57-DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS CLASSIFIED BYTRADITIONAL AND PRESENT OCCUPATIONS, SEX AND BROAD AGE GROUP .~------Numbe1' of wcrkers by age-group ,-_..--- .A..--- 1 ,------~ _"'___"__-, Traditional Sex of Total 0-14 years where presert 15-34 years where present 35-59 yrs. where present occupation the head number occupation is occupation is occupation i~ of the head of the of of the houst wOlkers S=-;~ - 'Jfdi~;;;-t-'" Same as jfd~---" Cme-;;:$---trdilferent--' household hold in col. 1 (N?me of Occu- in col. 1 (Name of occupation) in col. 1 (Name of ocupatir n) pation) (Culti- .A...... __ -., (Culti- r--- -., r-~ vation) Occupa- Occupa- vation) Occupa- Occupa- Occupa- Occupa- tion tion tion tion ,--.,.,.___" tion tion Business Peon M F of Betel leaves 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 CUltivation 5 11 6 1 3 19 ------_._---_ ~o TABtE 38-DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS CLASSIFIED BY TRADITIONAL AND PRESENT OCCUPATION, SEX AND BROAD AGE GROUP AND lU,ASON FOR LEAVlNG THE TRADITIONAL OCCUPATION ------_- Number of workers by age group Traditional Sex of Total 0-14 years where 15-34 years where 35-59 years where occupation the head number present occupation is present occupation is present occupation is , ,--_ _ ----.A---___ _ , of the of the of ~------, ~.------head of the household workers Same as I f different the Same as If different the Same as If different the household in col. 1 reason for leav in g in col. 1 reason for leaving in col. I reason for leaving the traditional cUlti. the traditional (Culti- the traditional occupation vat ion occupation vition) occupation ,..--.----"----, ,------"'----, ,-_ _ _ --A.. ___.. Reason Reason Reason Reason Reason Reason No inte· No inte· rest in rest in the tradi· tradi· tional tional ~ occupa- occupa M-F tion tion 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1l r2 J3 Cultivation 5 11 6 3 TABLE 59-DISTRIBUTION OF NON·WO KERS BY SEX, AGE AND TYPE OF ACTIVITY Number of Non·workers by type of activity and sex r------~. .A. 1 Age sroup Number of .A.non-workers______, Infant Full time student Household duty ,------"------, r-----A..-- r-----.A.------, Persons Males Females Male., Females Males Female, Males Female, · 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0-14 18 7 11 3 3 4 6 2 15-19 3 3 3 20-24 3 2 2 25-29 30-39 1 40-49 3 3 3 50-59 60+ 1 Total • 29 8 21 3 3 5 6 12 ------TABLE 60- HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED REASONS lfOR G1VING UP THE CRAFf CL~FIED BY SEX, RELIGION, AND CASTE/TRIBE/COMMUNITY OF THE KeAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Religion, caste/tribe/communi t y Sex of head of the household Number of Number of household having gIven of the head of the household household up the craft since ,-___--A-- ____, r- ______J~______, r------..A..-----...... _ less than 5 years due to r-----~------~ r-----.------A~------. Religion Caste/Tribe Male. . Female Lack of capital Lack of workers Community in the family 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hinduism Mahisya 5 5 3 i ,.) TABLE 61-HOUSEHOLD REPORTED REASONS FOR GIVING UP THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY SEX AND EQUCAlIQNAL LEVEL OF THE HEAD OF THE HOU$HOLD " - --_. ------Number of households having given up the craft since r- ., Less than 5 years Educational level of the head of the household due to ' Sex of the head of the ,-_ __--A.- __..... household No. of households Lack of Lack of Capital Workers 2 3 4 5 6 - ----.------Illiterate 2 2 Literate without educational level '\ , 1 Primary or Junior basic 2 2 1 Middle , : Matricul ation or Higher Secondary Non-technical diploma or certificate not equal. to degree Technica I diploma or certificate not equal to degree .. Graduate and above . -:-----~---~ _..-- , --- Total 5 , . 5 . 3 2 ------, 68 H·A--13 92 TABLE f.2-HOUSEHOLDS REPOR.TED REASONS FOR GIVING UP THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY SEX AND OCCUPATION OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD ------Number of household having given up the craft since Sex of the Number of Less than 5 years due to Occupation of the head of household head of the · household ,.------A.------. household Lack of Lack of r- ----"..--, workers capital ______M ___F_ ._ 1 2 3 4 5 Peon Cultivator 4 4 3 Total 5 5 2 3 TABLE 63-HOUSEHOLDS REPORTED REASONS FOR GIVING UP THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY BROAD AGE-GROUP OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Number of households having given up the craft since Sex of the Number of head of the house- Less than 5 years Broad ase-grOUP of the head of the household household holds due to · r-----A------., Wants of Wants of Capital Worker 2 3 4 5 6 0-14. 15-34 . 1 35-59 . 4 4 3 60+ . Total 5 5 3 2 TA'9LB 64-DISTR.IBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVING MEMBERS WITH NECESSARY SKILL TO PRACTICE THE CRAFT AND REPORTED REASONS FOR NOT PRACTISING THE CRAFT CLASSTFIED BY RELIGION, CASTE/TRTBE COMMUNITY OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD Sex of the Number of Number of Number of households household households households having members with having necessary skill to Religion caste/tribe/community no mem- practice the craft but ber' with not practicing the same necessary dole to skill to practice r------~-----.,Lack of Lack of the craft Capital Worker 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hinduism Mahisya 5 5 3 2 ------"--.. ------_ ------93 ----- ._ ._----, --, .. _ ------Sex of the Number of Number of Number of households head of the household'! households having members with household having no necessary skill to ~ members practice the craft but Educ ,tion 'I level of the hcac;l of the household M F with neces not practising the same sary skill due to to practice .-___.A.--....-"""'I the craft Lack of. Lack of capital Worker - .------2 3 4 5 6 -----_.'-- Illiterate . 2 2 2 Literate without educational level 1 " .. 1 Primary or Junior basic 2 2 1 1 Middle. Matriculate or Higher Secondary Non-technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree Graduate and above Total 5 s 3 2 ------_ .... _---_ .. _----- TABLE 66-DlSTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD HAVING MEMBERS WITH NECESSARY SKILL TO PRACTICE THE CRAFT AND REPORTED REASONS FOR NOT PRACTISING THE CRAFT CLASSIFIED BY OCCUPATION OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD . . - _._ _ -----_.--- - -_... _---_ .. _--_ .. __._ -- Sex of the Number of No. of Number of households head of the households households having members with houseaold having with necessary skill to practice r--..A,-, necessary . the craft but not Occupetion of the head of the household M F skill to' practising the same practice due to reason the craft .A.- ___ """\ Lack of' Lack of Workers Capital . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 Peon (office) 1 1 2 Cultivation 4 4 1 3 Total S S 2 3 .. . ------~ . .- . .-- . - _. _--...... - 94 : "tABLE 67-;-:,:t)JSTRIBU'tION, OF pOP.tJLATt~ CLASSIFIED BY AGE, SEX AND MARITAL STATUS IN TALPA • . • ~ • . .• .' I . . . Age-group Never married Married Widow Divorced or sepa- Total population ,--~ ,--.A..---, ,---..A._____, rated ,---..A.-.--, ,-___..A.-----, Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe- son male son ' male son male son male son male 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 0-....4 12 7 5 12 7 5 5-9 19 II 8 19 11 8 10-14 18 11 7 18 11 7 15-19 18 'S to 5 4 23 9 14 20-24 3 3 5 5 8 3 5 25-29 2 2 11 6 5 14 8 6 30-34 5 4 5 4 35-44 14 9 5 14 9 5 45-54 8 3 5 9 3 6 55-69 8 6 2 8 6 2 70 + 2 2 3 2 .------Total 72 42 30 58 28 30 2 2 133 70 63 TABLE 67A-DISTRIBUTION Op POPULATION CLASSiFIED BY AGE, SEX AND MARITAL STATUS IN SERTTA ----_._--- Age-group Never Married Married Widow Divorcedj or Separated Total Population ,----.A.------, ,~ r---..A._____, r-- -..A.-, ,-_..A.__ ---, 11 I . •• Per- Male · Fe- Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe I"" .. _ " son male son male son male son male son male 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 O~ 23 13 10 23 13 10 5~~ 26 12 14 26 12 14 10-14 20 8 12 20 8 12 15-19 15 7 8 3 3 18 7 11 20-24 .. 5 5 10 3 8 15 7 8 25-29 13 7 6 13 7 6 30-34 9 7 2 10 8 2 35-44 8 7 9 8, 45-54 6 4 2 7 5 2 55-69 10 7 3 3 2 13 8 5 70+ 1 ------Total 90 46 44 60 30 31 4 2 2 1 155 77 78 95 TABLE 67 B--,-DISTRlBUTION OF pOPULATION CLASSIFIED BY AGE, SEX AND MARITAL STATUS IN KHOLABERY A ------_ - Age group Never Married . Married Widow Di vo reed! Separa ted Total Population ,-____.A..,_, , __. ..A..---... ~, ,-..._....A___, , -_.A..------, ,~-.. Per- Male Fe- Per~ Male., Fe- Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe- Per- Male Fe- son male son male son male son male son male 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. 11 12 13 14 15 16 0-4 19 13 6 .. 19 13 6 5-9 12 8 4 .. 12 8 4 10-14 18 9 9 18 9 9 15-19 17 13 4 17 13 4 20-24 9 7 2 10 2 8 19 9 10 25-29 2 2 11 4 7 13 6 7 30-34 5 3 2 6 4 2 35-44 17 10 7 18 10 8 45-54- 8 3 5 2 10 4 6 55---69 10 7 3 11 7 4 70+ 3 3 4 3 Total 78 53 25 64 32 32 5 4 147 86 61 ------_.__ . TABLE 68-DISTRIBUTJON OF POPULATION CLASSIFIED BY AGE, SEX AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL IN TALDA ------_._-_ ------_._- ,-______------A.Educational Level -., Age group Total Population Illiterate Literate with- Primary Matriculation out p.ducatiOnal or Junior Middle or Higher level basic ,..A.-., SecondarY ,-...A. __ -., . r----"----, ,---.A.--., ~, . ,-_ ..A.. __--, - Per- Male Fe- M F M F M F M F M F son male 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 0-4 12 7 5 7 5 5-9 19 11 8 3 3 8 5 10-14 18 11 7 2 8 4 3 15-19 23 9 14 2 4 3 6 2 3 2 20-24 8 3 5 2 2 25-34 • • 19 9 10 7 6 2 2 35+ 34 20 14 3 13 8 7 2 -----~-- --- Totai 133 70 63 15 36 29 15 19 9 5 3 2 ._---- ._ .. __.. _- 96 TABLE 68Ai-·DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION CLASSIFIED BY AGE. SEX AND EDUCATJONAL LEVEL IN SARITA Total POpulation Educational Level ,--__ ...."._..,A -. ,.------~- --. Age-group JIIitcm'te Literate without Primary or Middle Matrku l ~ tion or educational level Junior basic Higher Secondary ,..-__..A. _ _ -. r---"'-- -. ,...---A.--, r-- _ .A._ - -. r-A---. Person Male Female M F M F M F M F M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 -_-., ,_---- 0-4 23 13 10 12 9 1. 1 5-9 26 12 14 5 11 9 10-14 20 8 12 3 4 5 4 4 15-19 18 7 11 2 6 3 4 1 20-24 15 7 8 4 2 3 1 2 1 1 25-34 23 15 8 4 6 1 4 3 2 2 35+ 30 15 15 7 13 4 1 3 1 Tota) 155 17 78 22 40 27 2S 15 12 9 1 4 ------. _- - --~ - . -- ' ---.' _. TAB-LE 68B-DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION CLASSIFIED BY AGE, SEX AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL IN KHOLABERYA ------. r------...- Educational Level ., Age-group Total Popul 5-9 12 8 4 3 1 5 3 10--14 18 9 9 2 5 7 4 ." 15-19 17 13 4 1 3 3 7 1 , 20--24 19 9 10 6 2 2 3 2 .'. 2 2 25-34 19 10 9 5' 4 r 2 r 35+ 43 24 19 2 14 12 4 8 2 Total 147 86 61 19 37 29 18 19 3 9 8 2 97 TABLE 69-.DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY AGE AND SEX OF HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN SARTTA ------. ------Age of head of the Number of households Number of households having members household by sex of head of the r--"'---- _~--___.A.. ______,. __• household -----, r---"""-_,' Single 2 3 4 5 6·1 10·12 l3and M F above -----._-_. . _-- .- - _ .. . _------2 3 4 5 6 1 8 9 10 11 12 ------_._---_------_._ -----_ 2G-29 5 2 30--39 4 2 40-49 SO-59 7 2 2 2 60 + 3 Total . 20 3 5 3 5 ------ TABLE 69A-DlSTRIBUlION OP HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIPIED BY AGE, AND SEX OP HEAD OP THE HOUSEHOLD AND NUMBER OF MEMBERS TN KHOLABERYA --_._------_._-- -_----_-----_._--_- ,.-----_._-----"'-Number of households h~ving members Age of head of tht. Number of '------~------, household households Single 2 3 4 5 6-7 8-9 10·12 13 and by sex of above head of the h')usehold ,-.A._ _, Mal\: Female ---- 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 _---.--_.----_. ------_.. _------_. ----.._-. Bc)ow-20 20-29 4 2 1 30-39 4 2 40-49 4 1 SO-59 S 60+ 3 Total 20 s 3 5 2 3 --- ' - --- . ~ 98 TABLE 69B-·DlSTRJBUTION OF HOUSEHOLDS CLASSIFIED BY AGE AND SEX of-aEAD.OF THE HuUSEHOLD AND : , ., NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN T AALDA ------._ Number of households.A-_ _...... _:h'lving ___members• ______--., Age of head of the Number of household households by sex of Sin,gle 2 3 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-12 13 and head of the above household ,._..A._-, M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 [0 11 --._--_.. _-_._------Below-20 20-29 4 2 1 1 30-39 4 3 40-49 5 2 2 50-59 3 2 60+ 2 1 ------, -- ---' ------~------:--- Total 18 2 3 3 6 3 2 ------_.._- -_ ... -. . ------_------ -', '/ . , ...._ , . MG[?MR-l- 68 HA - Il- WEST BENGAL DISTRICT MEDINIPUR LOCATI ON OF SELECTED CRAn CENTRES """ 0 ~~ N ( ! \." ;' I...... _'r- '1 o IQI.MDIlItY, 'TillE I" •• DISfll;ICT •• '. 'OLIC[Sr"nON .• IIE,IIOCI.UNilt[A!i : OIST",Cl, 'OlICE ~TAtIOfl ®. @J *tU)flAL HI","WAY I _I • . • s ," lMPOIU"IIfT fIIIETALUO fIO~O IItIfoIITALlEOAO,,"O . .••• ""I~""Y LIME '11 11\01 ~HIT\ON, aROIoI) (;Jo\Jc,t II'ICA AHO,SrAEAM • CIIAfT COlf"E ..,$[O WJM:Y Of 1141>111 ",V WITI-1 rl'lE P(PMI$SION Qr TH( SVRvnCfI GE "~AAl Of INOi l TM( lUKI.\10IlU,\. .... '['" Of \ ~~ .. ~P~11O INt'J t~l '.!V IQ • O' S''' PHOTOGRAPHS Not a cross-road-approach to the craft-centre in Sarita-the improvised cyClle van transports both men and merchan1ise Interior v :ew 0'; Sartta-craftman's residence to th~ left in view The village pathway to the craft-centre in Ta'da. does not allow the passage 'Of a cart The ·· lDterior view of the craft-centre in KhoJaberya In the heart of the locality of the craftman in Talla A Ciluster of artisans' huifB in Kholaberya A map of Jndia depicted on the masland mat in the craft-centre in Sartta represents an article produced. in the pas;t Imprint of immortality_the portrait of Bapuji on a masland mat in the craft- centre in Sartta is also symbolic of the artic-es produced in bygone days The craftsmen of Talda too did not lag behind-the figure of t,ne Buddha woven on a masland mat in Talda. - an article of the past An art take. of the present-the masland mat with multiple desig'us in colour is produced at present by the artisans in Talda A multi-designed cOloured masland mat now produced in Sartta - the designs used in horizontal lines from top to bottom are 8ushuni Phul, Latika, Kadam Phu]" Diba, Bakul Phul and Kalka respectively Another multi-designed coloured masland mat now wOven by the artisans in Sartta - the designs in horizontal lines from top to bottom are Sushuni Phul, Latlka, Chand Mala, Diba and Kalka respectively . , , A masland mat produced at KholaberYa for an entry in a competition at the State level uses two colours (black and magenta) and employs designs with motifs o.f animals, birds and flowers ~ , - Masland mat produced in Kholaberya Another masland mat in Kholaberya with variation in the 'Use of designs "\ 'rite' matsticks in the field provide tlte basio raw material The matsticks in the field being harvested with the help of a Dao (Chopper) by an artisan Sorting-cum-sizing of Matsticks in the field Sun-odrying of the sorted and sized matsticks spread out in the open field Sun-dried matsticks being carried home from the field Bira-Bandha (bundling) of Khanchi (matsticks) in th~ courtYard Of the residence cum-workshop of the artisan Bundles b eing carr ie d for storing- Bundles being' arranged before storing A bundle of split Khanchi (matstick) after purchase from the Hat Cherai (Splitting) of matsticks into finer strands with ,the help of Tinkona (knife) Redrying of split matsticks to Sun-bleach the green colour into a golden tinge Preparing Tanasuta (warp) with the help ot Latai (turning wheel) to the left and PaltiL (drawing wheel) to the right Twisting and SIJinnil'g of Suta (tJ'l'ead) with the help of Charka (spinning wlleel) and Palti Setting up of looms and arranging the Tana Suta (warp threads) Weaving operation of a plain masland mat Further incisive splitting of a khanchi with the h-.elp of teeth into finer stands of thread Designing a masland mat of the plain variety ",J Weaving a masland mat-artisans in pair-mother and daughter working together Female artisans of the same family weaVe a masland mat Lettering a name on the masland mat as per specification of the customer ) , . Close-up view of the two artisans weaving from two ends A female artisan in Kholaberya almost in the finishing stacei Dhar ~ kata (cutting the edges) of a masland mat after completiOn of weaving Polishing a finished masland mat with the help of a Purul (Pentsandra) Dry leaves of the Rang gaach are further dried in the SUn Colouring the Klhanchi in the solutiOn of vegetable dye heated on an oven! In Iiholaberya dry Khanchis sometimes soaked in cold water before being dipped in the dye-solution ( A view of the production unit in the Verandah of the artisan's hut artisan couple work in Sartta Four looms under one shed Of a residence-cum-workshop in Kholaberya Two artisan groups at work in Kholaberya under the shed in the courtyard but not in the Verandah Or living hut. , , j .,1 -~ ,,; .. ~ ~~~ Tools and equipments ensemble--(a) Palti (drawing wheel) (b) Small Palti (c) Charka (spinning wheel) (d) Hata (reed) (e) Hata of another variety (in Tillkona Chhuri (a variety of knife) (g) Dao (chopper) (h) Bankano Chhuri (a knife of another variety) (i) Latai (turning wheel) (j) Kodal (spade) / ,r' March to tbe market with the articles produced fOr disposal Ware on display in Nehru Market at Digha The customer in the left inspecting a masland mat in a shop in Digha ( The family of a practising artisan in Sartta Swing between dream and reality-Sri Asok Kumar Jana, a young, enterprising craftsman in Sartta Maturity and experience immuta.bly im::: rinted on the face of ~hri Habu Lal Jana, a master craftsman in Sartta A contented. mother and a proud master craftsman-Sm. pushpa Rani.lana in Sartta won the National Award in 1980 under the aegis of the All India Handicrafts Board TIle National Award bagged by Sm. Pushpa Rani .lana of _Sartta in 19SO::-the backdrop Of the mrusland mat won her the prize Several practising artisan families in Talda against the setting of their residence -th~ homely atmosp .~ere heighteneu by the bovine livestock enjoying a siesta The march of age Istill far, yet celebrated for skilful lettering on maslandJ, mats-Sm. Mukta Rani Jana, an expert female artisan in Talda Sri bharanidhar J ana, a master craftsman in Talda Kholaber ya too has its quota of master craftsmen-Sri Harendra Nath Pra,dhan, !l. dedicated master craftsman Sri Srinibas Giri, a master craftsman in Kholaberya, has in his bag many awards The view of Maduram, the Co-operative society in KholaberYa with Sri Swapan Giri, Secretary A Siva temple in Kholaberya which draws the craftsmen together