Global Market and future on Indian Traditional Handicrafts

Global markets: The future of Indian traditional handicrafts. 

With the descent of civilisation, every group has created its own indigenous norms, products and rituals. Even gods. And the best way to depict the ethnicity of a clan is in showcasing  murals, paintings and handicrafts. Referring to the latter , handicrafts make core of the physical attributes of ancient art and folklore. 

The essence of every tribe is marked by its artefacts  and unique handicrafts often bestow pride and fame on the group. Many empires and kingdoms have been a nebula for artistic prosperity and exquisite work. The names of such kings and queens are remembered piously irrespective of their war games. To mention an example, the Mughal Empire had subjected the subcontinent to various battles howevertourist from anywhere on the globe adore the Lucknowi handicrafts or delicate works from the city of Hyderabad.

However as the times has turned the tables, with the availability of manpower and digital evolution, the products from assembly lines are much more hoarded in the market rather than man made pieces. The industrial revolution has bring upon a doom to the rural handicraft industry as robots and machines are more efficient working lads in comparison to the old fellow humans. The product is designed virtually nowadays making the humanly ideas of art and culture to fade in gloom. 

The present production focuses much more on profits and economy rather than cultural heritage. And all this has led the handicraft markets to restrict themselves in small corner shops near historical sites.

The presence of multinational culture has allowed every individual to seek beyond their own country and avail foreign goods thus depriving cities of handicraft hubs. And to this has added the technology revolution which makes it easier to go for an automated lifestyle.

But after every war is homecoming. Due to  advertisements and education which do promote our heritage, people have again started to opt for traditional upholstery , decoratives or utilities for their homes and workplaces. And the involvement of big industrial setups in this sector may give a boost to the native product culture. Even the government’s initiatives are helping to boost the sales up.  And as globalisation is on its wheels, the foreign economies are also looking upon handicrafts for a greater market value.

The following verse by Kabir, the famous indian poet tells how much our crafts relate to our lives.

I weave your name on the loom of my mind,
To make my garment when you come to me.
My loom has ten thousand threads
To make my garment when you come to me.
The sun and moon watch while I weave your name;
The sun and moon hear while I count your name.
These are the wages I get by day and night
To deposit in the lotus bank of my heart.
I weave your name on the loom of my mind
To clean and soften ten thousand threads
And to comb the twists and knots of my thoughts.
No more shall I weave a garment of pain.
For you have come to me, drawn by my weaving,
Ceaselessly weaving your name on the loom of my mind.