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The making of a STAR
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Glowing paper stars, spreading Christmassy cheer on cool December nights has JOHNY PAZHNILATH on the star trek. He unearths a happy, seasonal cottage industry in Kochi
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"THE BALETTAN stock is over. But, don't worry I can get you the latest Ammakillikoodu. It costs just Rs. 40." This is not an overenthusiastic salesman trying to push a pirated video CD, but a vendor of paper stars, trying to impress his eager Christmas shoppers.
Some of the brand names will simply jolt you. There are those named after films like Meesa Madhavan, Swapnakoodu, and a long list of many hit movies. These are the latest models in the Christmas star collections that sell like hot cakes in Kochi this season. They come in stunning colours and dazzling designs. These warm, flickering stars that flood the city markets during Christmas time set the mood for the much-awaited festival.
There is an almost frenzied display and sale of Christmas stars in the city with most of the shops now decorated and geared up. And for many traders this is a hot-selling product that brings them brisk business and a lot of cheer at the fag end of the year.
Kochi sells the highest volume of paper stars in the State. It also produces the highest number to meet the spiralling demands from other districts. For those engaged in its making this is a once-in-a-year opportunity to earn a short-term income. "Let Christmas be over. I'll clear off my loan dues entirely," Mr. Joseph, a small time star maker from Pachalam, promises the manager of a local co-operative bank. "While government employees wait for their annual bonus, the poor, unemployed people like me wait for Christmas to earn some money by making stars," says the 49-year-old Mr. Joseph, even while he bundles a pack of stars in a dingy room of his house.
For Thankamma Antony, a 46-year-old housewife from Vaduthala, the season of Christmas, apart from its celebrations, is a time when she can make a small earning, which comes as a blessing to her family. "Last year, we earned more than Rs. 24,000 making stars for our suppliers," says Ms. Antony, with an innocent smile. "This time, more families have jumped into this seasonal work, hence we are facing stiff competition," she adds. No one in her family has a regular income. The money they earn by making stars will help them pull along for a few months, reveals her husband.
Many women who take to this seasonal work get their materials from their main manufacturers and complete the work conveniently at home, while other independent makers buy the goods with borrowed money and go on with their own production. While the former earn a commission ranging from 30 paise to Re. 1 for every completed star, the latter earn higher profits, which come directly from the wholesalers.
"The commission varies depending on the size and design of a star," says Mr. Raju, who also takes up star making as a seasonal job. "I've no regular job. But this one gives me money, at least enough to celebrate Christmas. Moreover, you can finish a star even as you watch a television serial or sitting around gossiping," he continues.
Many wholesale star dealers in the city admit that Kochi is fast becoming the hub of paper star industry in the State. Until the early 90's, Kunnamkulam, in Thrissur district, was the main supply centre of Christmas stars. But with the phenomenal spurting of small-scale manufacturers, operating from one-room workshops, especially in the Pachalam-Vaduthala region, Kochi has taken over as the centre of twinkling stars.
According to P.B.Soby, proprietor of Beauty Collection Centre on Broadway, and a wholesale dealer, more than 25 paper star makers from the Vaduthala - Pachalam belt supply goods regularly. And they have been doing this for the last 13 years.
Today more than 30 unemployed individuals or poor families from this region work in this sector. And they either cater to the main manufactures in this locality or supply their goods directly to the wholesalers in the city. Despite the presence of major manufacturers, who use press and printing machinery and engage outside labour to meet the heavy demand from other districts, these seasonal workers have become indispensable in this sector.
"Most of the dealers prefer the stars produced in Kochi to the ones from Kunnamkulam," says
K. A. Johnson from Vaduthala. Mr. Johnson owns a book-binding unit and has been in the business of making stars for the past 10 years. He switches over to star making only for six months. "When the season is over, we'll be back to our job of binding books," he says. However, the job of making stars fetches him over Rs. 3 lakhs during the season. To meet the growing demand, he has engaged over 40 workers, most of them women from nearby areas. Often, they do overtime duties to earn a little extra for Christmas, reveals Mr. Johnson.
While there are major star manufacturers working throughout the year to cater to the all Kerala market, small-time star makers like A. C. Cleetus and Molly Cleetus find the seasonal job nothing more than a way to earn some small money. "We take loans from private financiers to do this seasonal business," say the couple. "To keep the stock ready by December, we have to start the work early in June. The stars, once produced, have to be stocked for five months. During this period we keep paying the huge interest on the loan," laments Mr. Cleetus. Yet they are happy that their small-scale venture has been able to provide jobs for over 20 workers during Christmas time.
Star making in the city began sometime in the 1970s. The pioneers in this field were St. Francis Press on Broadway, who began commercial production of this product. Later, some Pachalam-based workers, who were once employed in this press, set up small ventures at Pachalam and Vaduthala. Gradually, as there was no competition, they managed to establish themselves, says Mr. Joseph. In fact, this job is not confined to this area of the city alone.
"More than 20 women from Palluruthy and Fort-Kochi undertake our work," says Mr. Cleetus. "They take the materials home and complete the job with the help of their family members. Most of them are our regulars."
The workers of this unorganised sector have their worries. "Hartals and strikes, that appear like a bolt from the blue, affect our business badly," rues Mr. Cleetus. "Something like that during the peak of the season, will affect our business considerably."
With Christmas at the doorstep, most of the temporary workers are jubilant. It is not just because it is time to celebrate, but also because this is the time to earn some money, pay off long standing loans and start the New Year with a bang.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
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Thiruvananthapuram
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