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The Haat of the matter
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Dastkari Haat Samiti is showcasing the works of artisans from across the country at an exhibition. In an interview to Kausalya Santhanam, its president Jaya Jaitley talks about the show and the Samiti
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PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN
CRAFTS FROM ALL CORNERS At the exhibition in the city.
You can hold the entire riches of the crafts of Tamil Nadu in the palm of your hand. Against the hues of the kumkum and the turmeric, the beautifully executed map gives you a vibrant and holistic view of the multi-splendoured craft traditions of the State. The Dastkari Haat Samiti's craft map is part of a series, each of which covers a State, and is one of the highlights of the Samiti's Crafts Bazaar that's on till September 9, at the Lalit Kala Akademi, Greams Road.
The Dastkari Haat, sponsored by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, has a whole palette of colours and range of designs showcasing the consummate skill of Indian craftsmen.
Textiles and more
Inaugurated by Leela Samson, Director, Kalakshetra, the exhibition showcased textiles from Varanasi, West Bengal and Orissa, pottery from Rajasthan, embroidery from Karnataka, Kolkata and Uttar Pradesh and trendy jewellery from Delhi. To top it all is a fabulous range of literature on Indian crafts.
"This is the first time we are holding the exhibition in Chennai," says Jaya Jaitley, president of the Dastkari Haat Samiti, which has 15,000 artisans as members.
The federation was founded by Jaya in 1986 and "is committed to social and economic uplift through action and promotion of policies to benefit crafts people." The Dilli Haat, an offshoot of the Samiti which replicates a village fair, was her brainchild. "It took six years for me to convince the Government to set it up," she says. The Samiti celebrated its 20th anniversary recently in Delhi.
She is especially proud of the craft maps which took ten years to create. Planned initially as a marketing tool and to help locate crafts people, the maps have diversified into bookmarks, postcards, greeting cards and a travel journal. "The UNDP has used the details to identify and rehabilitate crafts groups affected by the cyclones in Orissa and Gujarat, and the maps have also been used to develop places of tourist interest by State governments. They are prized possessions of NIFT and NID students. We have been invited to participate in this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, where we will display the posters. So aesthetic are they that many people just put them up on the walls of their homes," says Jaya.
The Samiti has also published children's books on Indian crafts, one of which is written by Jaya. The organisation has a "Dostkari" programme where artisans from other countries are invited to stay at Dilli Haat and interact with Indian craftspersons.
Why is it that Chennai has no haat? "Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh have it. The haat helps artisans get better markets. It is for the government to set it up and keep it going," she replies.
And how well do craft and politics meet? "If you want to be involved in constructive, beautiful and creative things, it is difficult to mix that with politics. I have stopped being affiliated with any party. I'm a Democratic socialist by ideology. Many who are shedding tears for the craftsmen are doing it to further political ambitions. Why do craftspeople need quotas? They have their skills. For me, this is real politics — to help needy and poor craftspeople."
Chennai connection
Jaya has a strong Chennai connection. Her uncle S.K. Chettur was Chief Secretary of the State and from him, as from her father who was the first Indian ambassador to Japan, she got her love of books and writing. It is to Japan where the people have "such a fine sense of aesthetics" that she owes her love for crafts and all things beautiful.
Jaya believes there is a bright future for Indian crafts. "Fashion designers are looking at the Indian component. They are working on weaves, zari embroidery, tie and dye. We haven't touched a quarter of what we have. There is a huge market even within the country. We lack policy planners who have confidence in this section. It needs commitment. There should be as much passion about Indian Textiles (IT) as there is about IT."
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