Someone rightly mentioned that only singular thing about India is that your can write about it in plural. Crafts which are physical manifestation of human and cultural heritage of India are no different.
Unfortunately, Artisans and their children, who are the custodians of this rich & diverse heritage, are left to substandard, template driven schooling which teaches them everything except crafts.
In words of PK "Lagta hai kaono firki le raha hai" .
Graduates from these schools are neither fit for higher education in premier design institutions (barring exceptions) nor they connect with their craft.
Once the damage is done, millions of rupees each year are spent on short term training, long term training, technical training, non-technical training,design training, this training and that training.
I dont know which storms will awaken us from this ocean of sleep!
Is it not possible to understand and appreciate this plurality and have special crafts schools which lead to special entry intro premier design colleges?
Is it not easy to shape abhas and andaaz by abhyas and give these skilled craft persons (and anyone else who is interested) a career in the craft? When will we stop viewing our 10 million-plus craftspeople as a liability rather than an asset?
The real challenge is to break out of binaries of history. All of us learn from history but history can sometimes teach us wrong lessons, if reflection is not done properly. If the same method, packaged with different names, of rejuvenating the craft sector hasnt been able to break to the drift of artisans from the sector, should we not take a pause and think.
While such a change would require a policy level shift and finding alternative models of schooling, there are beautiful experiments already happening in the craft space. These experiments are trying to educate and train artisans and give them confidence and respect for the craft they and their parents are into.
It will be interesting for readers to explore more
Somaiya Kala Vidya (Bhuj)
The Handloom School (Maheshwar)
Kalhath Institute (Lucknow)
Each of these experiments have their pros and cons and we can debate that. But regardless success/failures, these experiments have opened the door of possibilities for artisans. These experiments have also given a space to artisans to not just view craft as a mechanical activity but as a reflection of inner creative self.
While aforementioned initiatives are based out of well known craft clusters, need of the hour is to reach out to lesser known artisan clusters and provide best in class education which makes them market ready while keeping the roots intact. This best in class education will remain impractical if industry, buyers, designers are not integrated in the education. It will also remain meaningless if ecosystem of these clusters is not improved while education and market readiness is happening. It will be a hollow education if only young artisans are involved and traditional knowledge and wisdom of elderly artisans is not put to use. ICT will play a major role. Last but not least, a qualified team which can truly "untrain" themselves and work closely with artisans for bridging the gaps in knowledge, skill and behavior; which stays right in the cluster for not 1 or 2 or 4 months but atleast for years which are required to make a good designer, engineer or a manager.
Easier said then done. But as Munnabhai says "Tension nahin lene ka" Something is happening in this direction........
