Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Article by Mansi Anand
Here is something interesting for all the environment lovers and the citizens of
Bhuj!
Greenbelt in the city of Bhuj developed by recycling sewerage water: a new initiative
The network of rivulets passing through the city
of Bhuj brings life to the lake systems of the
Hamirsar- a lake built over 450 years ago by
Rao Khengarji – I who chose this place as an
oasis in saline and arid kutch. Over several
decades, canals and tunnels were developed to
bring together water from 3 river systems to
recharge the acquifer.
Hunnarshaala Foundation, an Organisation that
promotes low cost eco friendly technologies, in
partnership with the Bhuj Municipality, initiated a pilot
project for greening half a meter stretch of the rivulet
that meets the Hamirsar. The canal falls between the
Mandvi and Mundra road. Through this project, 30,000
lts of sewerage water is taken from the municipality
sump, daily, and is recycled through Decentralized
Waste Water Treatment System (DEWATS). The
treated water is used to landscape the banks through drip
irrigation system.
The project was supported by American India
Foundation (AIF) and Care Today- India Today Group.
With the recent rains in the city the canal has come alive!
Once a garbage dump, the neglected rivulet
has gained life now. The residents of the
nearby apartments- Banker’s Colony & Siddhi
Vinayak Apartment participated in the
cleaning of the canal and plantation of trees,
and have started accessing it as a recreational
space.
Hamirsar lake that
overflowed in 2003
There are more such sites in Bhuj
where similar systems can be
installed to develop the rivulets
as green belts, and create a space
for ecosystem to coexist right in
the middle of the city!
Bhuj!
Greenbelt in the city of Bhuj developed by recycling sewerage water: a new initiative
The network of rivulets passing through the city
of Bhuj brings life to the lake systems of the
Hamirsar- a lake built over 450 years ago by
Rao Khengarji – I who chose this place as an
oasis in saline and arid kutch. Over several
decades, canals and tunnels were developed to
bring together water from 3 river systems to
recharge the acquifer.
Hunnarshaala Foundation, an Organisation that
promotes low cost eco friendly technologies, in
partnership with the Bhuj Municipality, initiated a pilot
project for greening half a meter stretch of the rivulet
that meets the Hamirsar. The canal falls between the
Mandvi and Mundra road. Through this project, 30,000
lts of sewerage water is taken from the municipality
sump, daily, and is recycled through Decentralized
Waste Water Treatment System (DEWATS). The
treated water is used to landscape the banks through drip
irrigation system.
The project was supported by American India
Foundation (AIF) and Care Today- India Today Group.
With the recent rains in the city the canal has come alive!
Once a garbage dump, the neglected rivulet
has gained life now. The residents of the
nearby apartments- Banker’s Colony & Siddhi
Vinayak Apartment participated in the
cleaning of the canal and plantation of trees,
and have started accessing it as a recreational
space.
Hamirsar lake that
overflowed in 2003
There are more such sites in Bhuj
where similar systems can be
installed to develop the rivulets
as green belts, and create a space
for ecosystem to coexist right in
the middle of the city!
Friday, 29 June 2007
Thursday, 28 June 2007
????
The pressure to write something is immense. Let me at least write the obvious. Good effort, you all. And it is raining!
Tuesday, 26 June 2007
Crafts of Kutch - 1
I thought a bit of historical context of some of the crafts being practiced in Kutch would help those who are a bit curious about Kutch and crafts. Will begin with the weavers, since that is what i have begun my new work in Kutch. Here goes!
CRAFTS OF KUTCH - 1
Weaves
Migrated from Marward in Rajasthan 600 years back , the weavers of Kutch form the Meghwar community in the region. Traditionally coming from the Marwarda & Maheswari community , in the last 40 to 50 years, while the Maheswaris went on to mainstream jobs , the marwarda weavers continue to practice their traditional skills.
These families associated with the various communities of Kutch – the Ahirs , the Rajputs and the Rabaris. The relationship that the weavers had with the communities went deeper than just suppling fabrics. They intermingled with these communities and participated closely in their religious, social and family functions.
Traditionally these weavers wove using the home spun yarn that the rabaris provided. The rabaris are a normadic community whose main occupation was herding sheep and goats. The weavers then wove the fabric and returned it to the rabaris. Each weaver was linked to a group of rabari families and they ensured that the entire production of the weavers would be taken up.
Wild onions were used to starch woolen yarn. These were available between October and November after the monsoons or in June / July when there is dew in the air. The weavers collected these themselves boiled / kept overnight , mash into jelly and starch the warp yarns early morning. Even today the more discriminate weavers use this when weaving wool.
After the 1960’s with the advent of cheaper mill made fabrics and also the access to synthetics which was more durable and maintenance free, local markets dwindled. They had to start looking for markets outside the district. In the 60’s a group of four enterprising weavers came together to look at opportunities outside Kutch at the national markets. Now over 1100 families of active weavers spread over 250 villages’ eek their livelihood through weaving. Selling is done through participation in national exhibitions, cater to tourists from overseas and in the winter months sell woolen and now acrylic shawls to the local community.
Motifs are community specific – working on rustic pit looms, the intricate designs emerge when the weaver hand picks the warp to weave in the weft , keeping the patterns in memory , constantly envisages the final look. A craft that involves intensity of thought, and nimble fingers, sometimes the artisan is not able to weave more than an inch a day!
A take off on the traditional Kutchhi woven shawls have become very popular today in the North & Western parts of India, where urban customers look forward to buying these shawls to keep them warm and cheerful with the bright colours of Kutch.
Among the dyeing weaves are the Kharad weaving done on collapsible, normadic looms – out of 10 families, seven families have shifted to other livelihood options. Mushroo weaving is almost become extinct with local families switching over to synthetic, mill made textiles.
Weaves
Migrated from Marward in Rajasthan 600 years back , the weavers of Kutch form the Meghwar community in the region. Traditionally coming from the Marwarda & Maheswari community , in the last 40 to 50 years, while the Maheswaris went on to mainstream jobs , the marwarda weavers continue to practice their traditional skills.
These families associated with the various communities of Kutch – the Ahirs , the Rajputs and the Rabaris. The relationship that the weavers had with the communities went deeper than just suppling fabrics. They intermingled with these communities and participated closely in their religious, social and family functions.
Traditionally these weavers wove using the home spun yarn that the rabaris provided. The rabaris are a normadic community whose main occupation was herding sheep and goats. The weavers then wove the fabric and returned it to the rabaris. Each weaver was linked to a group of rabari families and they ensured that the entire production of the weavers would be taken up.
Wild onions were used to starch woolen yarn. These were available between October and November after the monsoons or in June / July when there is dew in the air. The weavers collected these themselves boiled / kept overnight , mash into jelly and starch the warp yarns early morning. Even today the more discriminate weavers use this when weaving wool.
After the 1960’s with the advent of cheaper mill made fabrics and also the access to synthetics which was more durable and maintenance free, local markets dwindled. They had to start looking for markets outside the district. In the 60’s a group of four enterprising weavers came together to look at opportunities outside Kutch at the national markets. Now over 1100 families of active weavers spread over 250 villages’ eek their livelihood through weaving. Selling is done through participation in national exhibitions, cater to tourists from overseas and in the winter months sell woolen and now acrylic shawls to the local community.
Motifs are community specific – working on rustic pit looms, the intricate designs emerge when the weaver hand picks the warp to weave in the weft , keeping the patterns in memory , constantly envisages the final look. A craft that involves intensity of thought, and nimble fingers, sometimes the artisan is not able to weave more than an inch a day!
A take off on the traditional Kutchhi woven shawls have become very popular today in the North & Western parts of India, where urban customers look forward to buying these shawls to keep them warm and cheerful with the bright colours of Kutch.
Among the dyeing weaves are the Kharad weaving done on collapsible, normadic looms – out of 10 families, seven families have shifted to other livelihood options. Mushroo weaving is almost become extinct with local families switching over to synthetic, mill made textiles.
Friday, 22 June 2007
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
The Khamir Crafts Park
An earlier post by Rajiv gave an article on the Khamir Park. This is presently under construction and would be ready by Aug 2007.
It will be an exciting place to engage with the artisans and crafts of Kutch.
Khamir in the Kachchhi language means intrinsic pride, a trait aptly associated with the people of the region.
Under construction on a site 10 km out of the district capital of Bhuj, Kachchh, is the Khamir Crafts Park, the first phase of which will be operational in the first quarter of 2007.
The Khamir Crafts Park is an interpretation and demonstration centre for various crafts, envisaged as a space where artisans, buyers, suppliers, resource groups, agencies meet, interact and draw from each other. The Government of Gujarat (GOG) is funding the infrastructure in part. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is partnering this initiative along with Nehru Foundation for Development (NFD), Ahmedabad and Kachchh Nav Nirman Abhiyan (KNNA), Bhuj.
OBJECTIVES OF KHAMIR
- To promote conservation of environment, natural and cultural heritage, traditional arts & crafts, music, knowledge & practices and sustainable livelihoods by setting up education, training, demonstration, interpretation and other facilities in Kachchh.
- To revitalize, reposition and promote local and traditional crafts of Kachchh and in order to make these a viable and a sustainable source of income for the artisans.
- To bring under a common roof the collective and individual excellence in the areas of art, craft and culture and create conditions to ensure the best manifestation of art and craft.
- To network with organizations and individuals involved in developmental activities in Kachchh and to extend to them services, inputs and expertise of KHAMIR in order to further the overall growth in the region.
- To disseminate information on traditional arts, crafts, knowledge and practices pertaining to Kachchh as well as organise debates and discussions on issues related to Kachchh.
CRAFTS OF KACHCHH : A BACKGROUND NOTE
Crafts constitute the second largest sector in the Indian economy; second only to agriculture. This holds true in Kachchh as well. Over 60,000 families in Kutch eke out a livelihood through practicing traditional craft skills in what is essentially a rural “creative industry.” In this drought prone area, craft is a key means of providing a sustainable income. The total capacities available in Kutch in the various craft sectors are estimated to be in the region of INR 2 billion.
Say “crafts and Kachchh” and most minds make a visual leap to fine embroideries: jewel-toned silken threads picking out intricate patterns in tiny yet complex stitches… on the eye-catching traditional garb of flowing skirts and odhnis, blouses and batuas of the women of Kachchh.
What is less known is that there are at least 18 different forms of embroidery practiced in Kachchh… as well as a host of other crafts, both in the textile and non-textile sectors.
Textile crafts include weaving, ajrakh block printing, tie–dye, batik, mashroo, rogan and kharad (camel hair weaving.)
Under construction on a site 10 km out of the district capital of Bhuj, Kachchh, is the Khamir Crafts Park, the first phase of which will be operational in the first quarter of 2007.
The Khamir Crafts Park is an interpretation and demonstration centre for various crafts, envisaged as a space where artisans, buyers, suppliers, resource groups, agencies meet, interact and draw from each other. The Government of Gujarat (GOG) is funding the infrastructure in part. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is partnering this initiative along with Nehru Foundation for Development (NFD), Ahmedabad and Kachchh Nav Nirman Abhiyan (KNNA), Bhuj.
OBJECTIVES OF KHAMIR
- To promote conservation of environment, natural and cultural heritage, traditional arts & crafts, music, knowledge & practices and sustainable livelihoods by setting up education, training, demonstration, interpretation and other facilities in Kachchh.
- To revitalize, reposition and promote local and traditional crafts of Kachchh and in order to make these a viable and a sustainable source of income for the artisans.
- To bring under a common roof the collective and individual excellence in the areas of art, craft and culture and create conditions to ensure the best manifestation of art and craft.
- To network with organizations and individuals involved in developmental activities in Kachchh and to extend to them services, inputs and expertise of KHAMIR in order to further the overall growth in the region.
- To disseminate information on traditional arts, crafts, knowledge and practices pertaining to Kachchh as well as organise debates and discussions on issues related to Kachchh.
CRAFTS OF KACHCHH : A BACKGROUND NOTE
Crafts constitute the second largest sector in the Indian economy; second only to agriculture. This holds true in Kachchh as well. Over 60,000 families in Kutch eke out a livelihood through practicing traditional craft skills in what is essentially a rural “creative industry.” In this drought prone area, craft is a key means of providing a sustainable income. The total capacities available in Kutch in the various craft sectors are estimated to be in the region of INR 2 billion.
Say “crafts and Kachchh” and most minds make a visual leap to fine embroideries: jewel-toned silken threads picking out intricate patterns in tiny yet complex stitches… on the eye-catching traditional garb of flowing skirts and odhnis, blouses and batuas of the women of Kachchh.
What is less known is that there are at least 18 different forms of embroidery practiced in Kachchh… as well as a host of other crafts, both in the textile and non-textile sectors.
Textile crafts include weaving, ajrakh block printing, tie–dye, batik, mashroo, rogan and kharad (camel hair weaving.)
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