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Bihar: GI tag to products will boost trade, say artisans.
Jun 10, 2022

With the acceptance of initial application for issuing Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Nalanda’s ‘bawan buti’ sari tradition and Gaya’s ‘Pattharkatti stone craft’, the artisans and craftsmen of the areas have got the much- needed boost.

Bawan buti sari of Nalanda district is quite old and unique. Women of over 100 families from two villages -- Nepura under Silao block and Basawan Bigha under Biharsharif block -- in Nalanda have been attached to the age-old craft of carving 52 small flowers on silk and cotton saris.

While the woman workers of Nepura have the expertise of making embroidery of buti (motifs) on both tussar silk and cotton saris, the women of Basawan Bigha are experts in printing buti on cotton saris by using silk threads. The women of Nepura also produce tussar thread from cocoons brought from Jharkhand, which they use in preparation of tussar saris. The tussar and cotton saris with bawan buti are very popular among women of many Indian cities and are also exported abroad.

A bawan buti artist from Nepura, Sushila Devi, said the artisans do not get return for the labour they invest in this art. She said after GI tag, their condition will improve. She said sujni saris produced by the women of her village were accorded award of excellence from Unesco.

In Gaya, around 50-60 families are involved in carving statues of Buddha and other Hindu deities at village Pattharkatti under Atri block.

Deepak Kumar Gaud, one of the artisans, said, 'More than 150 artists are engaged in preparing idols mainly from white marble and wood at Pattharkatti. They carve the idols according to the demand placed by different shopowners selling idols. Secondly, the artisans prepare the idols keeping in view important festivals.'

Citing example, Gaud said, 'During Navaratra, there is demand of the idols of Goddess Durga. Similarly, on Ram Navami, idols of Lord Hanuman are in demand.' He added: 'The market for idols of Buddha is mainly at Bodh Gaya, while other art pieces find market in other cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi and Jaipur.'

The artists of Pattharkatti have been demanding international exposure to their work. International exhibition is organized in other countries. From other states, artists and artisans are selected and recommended for final selection by the ministry concerned of union government. Only one artist is selected from each state. The tour to that city where the international exhibition is being organized is sponsored by the ministry concerned. However, this is not in practice in Bihar.

Another measure to promote the work of artisans is that the tourists coming to Bodh Gaya also visit Pattharkatti, around 45km from the town. For this, tourist buses should be operated by the state government.

The artists fully depend on the earnings from idol-making. But, the Covid -19 pandemic spoiled the market prospects. The artists are now struggling to recover from the crisis.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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