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When Kaushal Prasad Tekam was around twelve years old, he created an artwork, left it on the verandah of his house and went out. After he came back, his father told him, “Very good”.
The compliment had come from some visitors from Shillong, who liked the artwork. It left him confused because he didn’t understand English. While narrating the story, Tekam switches to his native language, his comfort zone, and explains what that “very good” meant to him.
The deer he had painted that day became the reason behind his resolve to take up Gond art for a living. Hailing from Patangarh village in Dindori, Madhya Pradesh, he has displayed his art at the Dastkari Haat exhibition in Dutch Place, Bund Garden, Pune.
With a 100 beautiful stalls, a 100 beautiful stories like Tekam’s, the exhibition is a riot of colours. Lending to the lively atmosphere are performances by Rajasthani’s folk singers and Kalbelia dance by Bhutte Khan Manganiar, the international folk artist from Barmer.
Dastkari Haat, a not for profit organisation, which brings artisans and crafts from all states of India together, is in Pune currently. A large range of weaves, hand block prints, embroideries, crafts in grass, bamboo, metal, wood and other plant material, jewellery, stationery, ceramic and terracotta and traditional art from Gond to Kalighat, Phads, Pattachitra and Pichhwais are displayed at the exhibition.
One of the stalls at the exhibition is by Shanti Seva Nidhi Trust, a part of their ‘Project 1,000’ initiative. Talking about the project, Ritu Saraf, project director, says, “The project aims to make it possible for women from rural India to earn Rs 1,000 per day.” However, she points out that the number of hours they work, number of products and their cost is left for the weavers to decide, in order to put them in charge of their entrepreneurial journey. So based on individual output, weavers earn anywhere between Rs 300 and Rs 1,000 a day.
The project aims to fix two problems that the country is facing at the moment: Unemployment and textile wastage. “India is one of the largest generators of textile wastage and because of its growing population the unemployment rate is also high. So we decided to take textile wastages from processed houses and then tap into the talent of rural India to create beautifully designed products,” said Saraf.
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The artisans are given two months of intensive training into three weaving and knitting techniques of wooden looms, crochet, Macramé. They are given exposure to international designs. “We want to bring back the charm of homemade and handmade materials, while ensuring zero emissions and zero pollution,” said Saraf.
Tekam proudly showed an art piece he took two months to create. He has priced it at Rs 30,000. Talking about the profitability of his art, Tekam says, “People who know how to value art and an artist buy from me from anywhere between Rs 1,000 and Rs 40,000. But there are many who think they can draw similar pieces at home.”
Many artisans who have received national awards for their work are exhibiting their work too, like Vijender Shekhawat, who is recognised for his handmade paper made out of elephant poo. Kalyanmal Sahu, who specialises in Pichwai painting from Rajasthan. Mohanbhai Makwana, behind the beautiful Patola sarees from Gujarat, Dayaben Dohat, an expert in Soof embroidery from Gujarat, etc.
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