Achalpur
Lac Bangles
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Acknowledgement It is our privilege to express our sincerest regards to our project mentor Mrs. Sharmila Dua & Mrs. Shonali Saldana, for their valuable inputs, able guidance, encouragement, whole-hearted cooperation and constructive criticism throughout the duration of our project. We deeply express our sincere thanks to Department of Design Space and MSSIDC for encouraging and allowing us to present the project on Achalpur craft cluster of Lac Bangles. We take this opportunity to thank all our lecturers who have directly or indirectly helped our project. Last but not the least we express our thanks to our friends for their cooperation and support.
Contents Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................5 About Lac bangles..............................................................................................................................................................7 Raw Materials...........................................................................................................................................................................13 Tools.................................................................................................................................................................................................21 Process - Natural Lac........................................................................................................................................................27 Synthetic Lac....................................................................................................................................................33 Products........................................................................................................................................................................................39 Lac bangles - An Unsustainable Craft?.............................................................................................................45 Issues faced by artisans...................................................................................................................................................51 Family Tree...................................................................................................................................................................................55 Home as workplace.............................................................................................................................................................59 Costing..........................................................................................................................................................................................60 References...................................................................................................................................................................................62
Chala Achalpur.... Achalpur
A
chalpur, formerly known as Ellichpur or Illychpur is a very small city of Maharashtra under Amravati district. Everything about it is small, including the population of just 1, 12,311. But still when one encounters it, there is nothing brief about it. Sitting in a shared rickshaw from Paratwada, when one approaches Achalpur, the elephantine Dulha Gate, greets the onlookers. One finds a big opening when least expected. The buffalo herdsman trying to pass through the gate along with the rickshaw and a bicycle is the only kind of traffic congestion you would find idyllic not because there is no noise, but because it is not hostile like the big cities. Few steps past the gate, one is in Achalpur. The houses do
have the texture of poorly plastered walls with asbestos sheets on top, but painted in the colors of freshness and joy. There is big tree with cemented platform around it, like the one most of us expect to find in such a place, but there is also a bank and ATMs around as elements of surprise. The people are curious to know you and have small conversations to offer. Even the miniscule piglets make way for you. The guarding wall of an old fort is visible on empty grounds with monkeys posing on the peaks at sunset. One has to just stand there taking in the manure scented air, listening to the indistinct sounds around while waiting for a rickshaw back. And that is all it takes to make “Achalpur� live its name in ones memory.
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Overview
L
ac has been in relevance since the time of Mahabharata. It is believed that is has been used during the time of Mahabharat. During that period a famous lac house was built by Kauravas. This being an exception, Lac was generally used for making Bangles with fancy coloured cut stones. Lac Bangle are traditional ornaments worn by women are the essence of womanhood and a tradition that has continued since ages. Every woman following the rituals in India, would relate to its importance. In some parts, lac bangles are offered to God and Goddesses as it is considered having a significant religious importance. Whereas, its use is not limited to just the religious aspects as it is also worn by women of all age groups during festivals which contributes to its social importance. Reference to lac can be found in Vedas. The Atharvaveda provides a detailed account of lac, its production, and uses. Ayurveda stresses the importance of lac in medical therapies. India is one of the largest producers of lac and its principal exporter. It is widely used in food processing, textile, leather, cosmetics, varnish, and printing industries. Being bio-degradable and eco-friendly its usage is becoming highly popular (www.aiacaonline.org/pdf/lac-bangles-extended-documentation.pdf)
What is Lac? The word lac is the English version of Persian and Hindi words that mean “hundred thousand,� indicating the large number of the minute insects required to produce lac. In fact, about 17,000 to 90,000 insects are needed to produce one pound of shellac. Lac Bangles | Page 8
Lac is a resinous substance secreted by an insect called kerria lacca. The insect hosts itself on the branches of certain trees such as kusum/papal and forms a red encrustation around it. The coated branches are cut and sieved and the material obtained is washed to remove all impurities. The resulting seed lac is used in making several products. Lac is the source of resin, wax, and dye. It is collected from forests in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal, and Assam. [Bhatnagar Mamta, Jangir Sheena; Challenges and opportunities for Rural Lac Bangle Industry]
Host Trees Lac cultivation holds advantages for India as India has good source tribal farmers, inhabiting sub hilly tracts with meagre investment. It also has a good crop for marginal and degraded lands and there is no competition for land operation with agricultural/horticultural crops. The quality of Indian Kusumi lac is the most superior in world. It also has a high export potential, where about 75% of present production is exported. “In India, the host plants are mainly used for growing lac cultivation in forest of Himalayan Tarai, regions of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, some parts of Rajasthan, Gujrat and Assam, the forests comprises trees mainly of Ber. Palash,Ficus sp., Kusum, Acasia sp.Ghont.Shorea sp.Dalbergia sp, Albizzia sp. and bushy host plants likeFlemingia, Grewiaand Cajanus cajan.In India about 90 %
lac is produced on the three conventional host trees i.e Kusum, Palash and Ber.” [PaulB, Kumar Sand DasA.Lac cultivation & their host trees found in Bastar Forest Division.Plant Sciences Feed, 2013;3(1):8-12]
Regardless of the history or the story behind the great craft of lac bangle making, one thing for sure is that, they will remain for time im-
Origin
History, Origin and Caste of the Craftsmen
According to an article by Dr. P Jogi Naidu of the Archaeology and Museums Andhra Pradesh, the origin of this great craft goes back to the days of the Qutub Shahi era. It states that the pioneers came to the city as hakims to cure people (which was their primary occupation) and bangle making acquired the form of a subsidiary one. However, there are other tales too, to their origin. As per the author of ‘The Bangle Char Chaman’, Mohd. Hussain, “As the trade relations between Golconda and Persia were cordial, a group of Persians, whose main occupation was hakim and subsidiary occupation was bangle making, came to Golconda at the invitation of the King and settled down here. Therefore bangle making as an industry started in Hyderabad during the Qutub Shahi period.”
In the state of Rajasthan in India, the churigars (bangle makers) script a story of communal amity with entire Muslim communities engaged in producing bangles, traditionally worn by Hindu married women as a symbol of marriage. In India there are different centres which
Yet another version is that, there were regular trade ties between the Golconda and Vijayanagara Kingdoms in the 15th and 16th Centuries and during this period Vijayanagara was the main centre for manufacturing glass bangles which were brought to Golconda, the main market place in those days. There are yet other historians that state that this craft originated in Rajasthan during the 17th Century and Mumtaz Mahal, the Mughal empress, was a great patron of beaded bangles and set the fashion trend among the nobility at that time.
memorial and continue to entice its wearers.
specialize in the manufacture of lac bangles. Firozabad, in Uttar Pradesh is renowned as a centre for such bangles. In the southern city of Hyderabad known for its pearls, cuisine, poetry and the most famous is the lac bangle studded with glittering and beautifully cut glass pieces of various colours. According to anthropologists bangles were treated as an accessory from the pre-Vedic era. With the introduction of ritualistic beliefs in medieval India bangles were elevated from being mere ornaments to symbols of marriage. The ladies of all section of society were very fond of wearing bangles termed as ‘chura’. The craftsmen, engaged in lac industry, were known as Lakheras and Churigars. The bangles were made mainly of lac which was imported from Multan and other parts of the country. The bangles made of lac were generally worn by the ladies of the lower classes. The ladies of affluent families preferred bracelets or ivory, manufactured by churigars. The Lakheras were engaged in the manufacture of bangles of lac called ‘churas’, generally worn by the ladies of the lower classes. They were found throughout Rajasthan. The lac craftsmen in Rajasthan belonged to the Manihar communiLac Bangles | Page 9
ty..Although, in Hyderabad the lakheras or manihars from Rajasthan remain the core community in the lac bangles sector, people from a number of other communities have also entered the sector as workers, contractors and traders.
paid very little; it is assumed that their income is “pocket money� and not a source of family income. Most often these workers are doing simple manual tasks. Married women with long-time experience working in the industry make up the middle portion of the labour force. They are responsible for assembling and other tasks which require
The new entrants who have increased in numbers over the past decade or so are from diverse ethnic, caste and biradari backgrounds, including Syeds, Sheikh, Mughals, Pathans, Qureshis as well as Urdu-speaking communities other than the lakheras or manihars of Rajasthan. [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/11401/11/11_ chapter%203.pdf]
Plight of the craftsmen It has been argued that the income generated by farmers cultivating lac is not enough to sustain their livelihood because the employment in this agriculture is highly seasonal. To sustain their livelihood some farmers also come up with bangle making enterprise. Such enterprises are not always built on the right location which contributes to further problems if the bangles are not sold. Thus, they often constitute secondary sources of income, as they are intermittent, part time and seasonal. The surplus earned is in small values and is mostly spent on household expenditures. Apart from this, subsequently too many enterprises cluster in one area which in turn leads to diminishing their personal growth. The hierarchy of these craftsmen’s enterprises is such that at the bottom of it are young, usually single or newly married women. They are Lac Bangles | Page 10
https://madeinkachchh.wordpress.com/ manual dexterity. The highest positions are traditionally held by men. This top segment performs the skilled functions of production, which often require training and apprenticeships. Lac Bangles in different states and their importance Lac bangles are considered auspicious in several cultures of the country and therefore popular during marriage ceremonies in regions like Rajasthan, Hyderabad and Bihar. They are considered a
sign of good omen and are worn by married women on all auspicious occasions in Gujarat and Rajasthan; where red and green are the traditional colours.
choodha” or the ‘hare bandon ka choodha’ i.e the green colored bangle. Pink colored bangles are worn exclusively during Holi.[http:// gaatha.com/maniharon-ka-raasta/]
In Rajasthan lac bangles continue to be popular among married women and are preferred as they are soothing to wear and do not cause infections or itchiness like in the case of plastic or glass bangles. Worn in ceremonial functions, traditional designs are popular. The Rajasthani rituals are known to require specific traditional ornamentations and different festivals seek different ensembles. Hence the sale of lac bangles increases during local celebrations such as teej, the arwari festival of gangaur, karva chauth, holo, wedding and special ceremonies for the mothers to be.
Sequins, semi-precious stones and glass work on lac bangles are quite popular in Hyderabad. Chudi Bazaar is one of the famous and ancient market in Hyderabad where women can shop dazzling bangles of different types and varieties. This Bazaar is mostly famous for Lac bangles studded with glass mirrors, and colorful stones.
Each celebraton/festival can be identified with a distinctive style of lac bangle.
Designer lac bangles are also available here in various hues and tones like red, green, black, blue etc. and are available in an exclusive range of ethnic designs. With intricate designs some have rhinestone crystal, artificial diamonds, pearls and mirror work. The lac bangle is considered a must when getting married according to the Hyderabadi rituals. [http://hyderabad-india-online.com/2012/11/ chudi-bazaar-bangles/]
For instance, a wedding in the family calls for the the “pink/red In Maharashtra, green is considered an auspicious colour by married women. A few days before the wedding, a bangle seller performs the ritual of stacking the wrists of the bride and the married women present with green bangles Despite the passage of time bangles have adapted themselves, retained their versatility and fun aspect. Once considered a symbol of tradition and marriage, bangles are worn as universal fashion accessories (http://www.arabtimesonline.com/pdf08/oct/23/page%20 26.pdf
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Unprocessed Lac Lac is a natural material procured from the forest and then it goes through several steps of refinement to be finally used in making the products.
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Processed Brown Lac Its a natural Lac. Processed Lac in form of brown colored chips brought from Rajasthan. These brown colored chips are called by craftsmen as chapdi
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Synthetic White Lac This is a Synthetic Lac, in liquid form . Looks little transparent and is more durable as compared to natural Lac. Hence used more in Product Diversification.
Marble Powder This powder is formed out of Giya Stone. This is white in color used to mix with natural n synthetic lac to give them a solid form.
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Metal Rings They are made up of brass and is used as the base for the Lac bangles Lac Bangles | Page 17
Decorative Material Generaly the craftsmen uses stones , beads ,pearls , mirrors for decorating the bangles along with
silver and golden powder for
shining
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Coloured Lac This is in form of cube and made up of synthetic lac used for colouring the natural lac. Lac Bangles | Page 19
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Bhatti The bhatti has three sections, with 2 wooden parts and the middle section is a hollow area wih hot coal in it. On one woadden plank thin lac tubes are formed and on other the thin lac tubes are coated on the metal rings. The coal is used to heat the lac and metal rings.
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Fan The fan is used to keep the coal hot during the bangle making process. It runs at slow speed Lac Bangles | Page 23
Shallow Vessel (Kadai) This is an iron vessel used to melt lac either to make colors or normal lac rod. Lac Bangles | Page 24
Tweezers: Used to pick the metal bangle while heating and picking the stones to embellish on the lac.
Flat wooden tool: This is used for pressing and shaping lac bangles for sizing.
Round wooden rod: This is used for sizing the bangles.
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Steps 1. Lac pieces are first melted in a shallow vessel or kadai. The mixture is stirred continuously, while the temperature should be maintained at more than 100. Simultaneously colour is added to make blocks out of it. 2. The melted lac now is rolled and mounted onto the long wooden rod and the colored lac is converted into in cube shape. 3. The lac (without pigment) is mounted on the wooden rod
and
heated
slowly
over the coal burner or Bhatti. This processl takes around 10 to 15 min. Lac Bangles | Page 28
4. When it is sufficiently warm and soft, it is wrapped with the desired color by rubbing the colored lac stick on it evenly. For this purpose the colored lac stick also has to be warm enough and is therefore heated over the Bhatti. Lac Bangles | Page 29
5. After the color has been applied to the lac base it is shaped into a thin coil like form with the help of hattha and cut off from the plain lac rod. (the base thickness is made according to the required width of the bangle)
It
is
simultaneously
pressed with a wooden tool called hattha at regular intervals.
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6. Metal rings are also simultaneously heated on the coal. After cutting the thin lac rod its given to the other worker to wrap it on the top surface of metal ring. Worker wraps the lac rod on metal ring. 7. After wrapping the lac on metal rings its left for 5-10 min for cooling.
lastly
the
bangle
is
washed in normal water and left for drying Then it will be wrapped into a plastic sheet for showcase.
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1. Synthetic lac is generally used for other products like jewellery, pandaan etc. It comes in liquid form. So in its first step it is mixed with marble powder. 2. They mixed it in a proportion that it is neither too soft nor too hard. 3. They roll it so that it can be directly mounted on to the bases that have to be designed
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4. Then they roll the synthetic lac on to the product that needs to be designed
5. After the above process they use decorative material, like stones mirror on the lac wrapped on the product.
6. The lac bangle mixed in sparkle powder gives it a much shinier look and also covers the base lac.
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lastly the bangle is washed in normal water to remove extra sparkle from product and left for drying Then
it
is
ready
to
be
wrapped in plastic sheets for showcase.
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Leheriya Pattern
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Leheriya with stones
Toe Ring (Bichhiya)
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Enamelled Lac Bangles
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Jewellery Box made of Lac
Bridal Lac Bangles
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Multicoloured Leheriya Pattern
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Lac Bangles with Pearl embellishment
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U
nsustainable factors of a craft are marked by its natural process, consumption process and output. The sustainability of a craft is judged by its depth in the market that is how well it’s accepted in the market. There are many factors which decide the acceptance of a craft. These factors vary from availability of raw materials to Contemporisation of the craft. Also the craft is an unsustainable model if it is facing extinction when the families of the craftsmen are not willing to adopt the craft and continue practicing it.
Waste Reuse: Every craft has certain amount of waste that is produced during its production. These waste materials are generally thrown away without understanding that these can be further used in some way or the other. For example, Lac is also used in Lac based finishes like Lacquer Paint used as a wood finish. So the waste materials from the processing of Lac bangles can be used in the making of Lac based paints to some extent.
Design Intervention: Taking all these factors into considerations Lac bangles was studied as an unsustainable craft and a secondary research was carried on the same initially. Lac bangles are very much accepted by women in Rajasthan. The market is very well settled and is also working on its contemporisation process. The main problem was faced by the same craft in Achalpur, Maharashtra. The main question over here was that what were driving forces in Rajasthan which were not present in Achalpur.
Design Intervention is very needed in today’s scenario to match up the expectation of the consumers. A craft should always experiment with its designs keeping its original essence intact. In Rajasthan Lac bangles are available in many designs like Lac bangles with Lahariya designs , Lac bangles with stones and many other patterns on them. The Craftsmen in Achalpur may not be aware of the design interventions possible in Lac bangles and may be following the old designs due to which they are not able to reach the consumers.
In the secondary research we studied how this craft was unsustainable in Achalpur. The main unsustainable criteria’s identified were : 1) Waste Reuse 2) Design Intervention 3) Women as major labours in the crafts 4) Wages of the employees 5) Less consumers in the particular region to buy the product. These unsustainable factors were studied in depth to analyse the solution towards saving the craft in Achalpur.
Women as major labours in the Craft: In secondary research it was found that the bangle manufacturing was a labour work meant only for women in areas like Hyderabad, where as the men were majorly responsible for the business related work. Over here the major need for change was seen in case the same process was followed in Achalpur.
Wages of Employees: Since the craft was not so much in demand in Achalpur there were Lac Bangles | Page 47
possibilities that the employees were not paid much. Due to which the craftsmen must be getting into other occupations which directly was affecting the manufacturing of the craft. So if some solution was provided to this issue the craft can be saved to a great extent.
own ways of preventing the wastage. So there was no need of waste management in the Bangle production.
Design Intervention
Another possible reason behind the unsustainability of the craft can be the availability of the costumer. In Rajasthan its a ritual to wear Lac bangles after marriage because of which it becomes the major source for selling the craft. But there are no such major reasons to buy the craft by the consumer in Maharashtra. Also there are many other bangle crafts available in the markets of Maharashtra to give a tough competition to this craft.
Design intervention techniques as discussed is very essential for a craft to survive in the market. In the primary research it was found that a lot of design intervention was not only done in the bangle designs but also Lac was used to make many other products like clips , key rings, toe rings , jewellery boxes, neck pieces, Mirror frames, decorative elements in mojris etc. Also they were open to other ideas given to them provided it was possible to use Lac in such designs. So design intervention was also not a concern for the craftsmen over there as they themselves were very much aware of the market needs.
These conclusions helped us to understand how to work on the unsustainable areas of the craft after we visit the craftsmen in Achalpur.
Women were not the major labourers in the bangle production process :
Less consumers in this particular region:
Waste reuse in the Bangle Making process in Achalpur : The Bangle making Process was divided into three parts 1) Melting of the Lac Biscuit 2) Colouring of the melted Lac 3) Heating the colored Lac for Bangle making process. In this process the waste is produced majorly in the last step, where some amount of extra Lac is left after the bangle is formed from the coloured Lac. But this extra Lac is reused while melting Lac Biscuit for the next lot and the process continues. So over here it was observed that there is no such wastage faced in the production of the bangles. The Craftsmen over here used the raw materials very efficiently and had their Lac Bangles | Page 48
From the secondary research it was concluded that there was a possibility that the women were the major labours in the bangle production and men were mainly dealing with the business superficially. But in the primary research it was found that in Achalpur, the labours were mainly men dealing with the production and processing of the bangles. There were women craftsmen present as well but majorly men were responsible for the production. Women were responsible for dealing with the costumers and selling them the bangles.
Employees were from the families of the craftsmen : In Achalpur, the lac bangle craftsmen were mainly from the families of the people doing the business. The orders , the production and
the selling of the bangles was done by the family members. So the profit earned was shared by the family accordingly. Also the next generation was willing to practice the craft as well. This was a major sustainable factor observed in the craft in Achalpur. As discussed earlier many crafts die because the next generation of the craftsmen indulge themselves into other occupations. But in this case the families were propagating the craft to their kids also due to which the design intervention was possible.
Enough market available for the craft: In the secondary research, the market availability was considered to be one of the reasons for unsustainability of the craft. But when this issue was discussed with the craftsmen, it was found that they not only
were producing bangles for the customers in Achalpur but also sed to produce bangles for other places in India. The major orders come during marriages and festivals. Also they are into exporting the bangles to other countries like in one of the orders a set of 200 bangles were exported to California with a profit of Rs 5000/-. In exporting the bangles they have to pay extra charges for export duties due to which they are not much interested in exporting but have good market penetration in the country itself. After doing this primary research it was concluded that this craft was not unsustainable but can be a sustainable study for other crafts in India. Though the market in Rajasthan is far more bigger than in Achalpur but over here the craft is still surviving as the craftsmen have devised their own methods to spread the craft.
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A
fter the intensive primary research done in Achalpur it was found that it is a sustainable craft where in the craftsmen were aware of the ways to expand the craft to other parts of the country. The business model followed by the craftsmen was majorly whole sale and retail based. Since the craftsmen were keen towards expanding the business in a larger perspective, they wanted to try the e-commerce business model. E commerce business model in this case refers to website following B2C business model where it sells the product directly to a customer. A customer can view products shown on the website of business organization. The customer can choose a product and order the same. Website will send a notification to the business organization via email and organization will dispatch the product/goods to the customer. Therefore an Ecommerce business model was the best way to expand the business to a larger consumer group.
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But when this proposal was further looked upon, there were certain limitations which popped up. The main issue was that there are many websites based on crafts already present in the market, so a website centrally based on Lac bangles won’t highlight the bangle business much. So the proposed solution to go online with the business was to start up with a Facebook page initially to make the consumers aware of this craft. Moreover Facebook as an online medium is available to all the age groups. So anyone interested in wearing bangles can visit the page where all the information about the craftsmen will be provided in order to purchase the bangles. Making Lac Bangles is a labour intensive process, which demands physical effort and time. In the process of making Lac bangles two craftsmen have to sit continuously for minimum 8 - 10 hrs in case of big orders during festivals n marriage seasons. Also the set up of the processing unit is such that it demands the labourers to sit down and work.
In this process many a times the labourers face blackness near the ankle area which later turns into painful hard corn like formation. This happens due to constant rubbing of the ankle with the ground. As a home remedy the craftsmen apply coconut oil on this black patch. But this remedy just helps to reduce the blackness and doesn’t reduce the pain as the area is still getting rubbed with the floor while working. So keeping in mind the ergonomically faced issue by the craftsmen a solution to the problem was proposed by designing a covering which can be worn by the craftsmen while working. Also since applying coconut oil was considered important in this case, the covering will be designed with a cloth which soaks coconut oil to constantly oil that area even when the craftsmen are working.
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Meaning of home
H
ome for most people is a place where they live their lives grow up, start a family, support it and come to rest after a day at work. The workplace is where people go, work for 8 hrs and get an income. But home is not merely a container of human life but also houses life-sustaining activities. In rural areas of India one can find home and workplace are frequently combined and intimately interrelated. Home of course is not merely the dwelling but the neighborhood also. “If there is one lesson for planners in the massive literature on slums and squatter community life, it is the finding that housing in these areas is not for home life alone. A house is a production place, market place, entertainment centre, financial institution and also a retreat. A low-income community is the same, only more so. Both the home and the community derive their vitality from this multiplicity of uses.”(Basic Housing: Policies for Urban sites, Services and Shelter in Developing Countries, 1983) In low-income areas, the complex web of economic linkages which exists between home-based enterprises and housing allows all but the most destitute to eke out a living and have access to shelter. It is believed there is a symbiotic relationship between housing and home-based enterprises, as dwellers are able to consolidate their dwellings through the income earned; many households would not have a dwelling without their home-based enterprise and many enterprises would not exist without the use of a dwelling. Thus, housing plays an important part in the existence and operation of the infor-
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mal economy in many countries.(The home as workplace: a study of income generating activities within the domestic set up, 2000)
Achalpur Notes The cluster of lac bangle makers in achalpur basically included a set of artisans and few craftsmen families who own shops offering lac, glass and metal bangles. The families are migrants from Rajasthan who have been staying in Maharashtra for past their 7 generations now. Every member of the family knows the art of bangle making and the youngest ones want to follow it in future. Knowing and following their forefathers’ skill hasn’t hampered their individual growth. All of them are educated, even the girls and are updated with what is latest. They have television and dish tv in their houses and carry smart
phones like regular people from the city. They dress well, talk well and know how to sell their products. It appears that the underprivileged, poor image of Indian craftsmen turns out to be all wrong. The popular opinion is that if an artisan is in a hut working under a kerosene lamp, the work is more indigenous and original. Contrary to this thought process, poor setup is not mark of Indian rustiness, but the work setup as a whole. The true rural setup of a workplace is where it is knitted within the regular household. Work is treated as work alone, household or business. Members’ of family assisting each other, sharing responsibilities, the whole place is divided into portions like shop, workshop, living room etc. This family mode of production within domestic settings has certain characteristics: •the family controls most of the land and capital to which its labour is applied •most of the family’s land, capital and labour are used in the enterprise •most of the labour applied is provided by the family •the resources can be converted swiftly and conveniently without loss from one form to another •time spent on domestic activities can be converted into time spent on home-based enterprises as the ebb and flow of domestic work allows •space can be used for a range of activities which may change throughout the day as well as seasonally The artisans’ home were based on similar lines. When entering the
Layout of the Artisans Home house, front portion is like regular rooms, and then the backyard has the working unit setup on small scale. The coal pit setup beneath the shade area with two seats across for two people to sit facing each other and coordinating. The open area had a washing corner and place to melt the lac biscuits. Some bathrooms were also present across the backyard like old houses. The place was warm and informal as it was home, so the comfort level is maximized for the artisans. Basically your home is your land and one can organize it however seen fit for income generation. As for the shop owners, the shop formed the front part of their place and backside is the household with a store room usually in the backyard. So this enables multitasking by the members of the family. Any member present at a time can look after the shop. An eye can be Lac Bangles | Page 57
carried out requires interaction with others beyond those who form part of the household or close neighbours: customers, dealers, delivery people, etc. Similarly, privacy within the household and between households may be compromised by the presence of work activities. In many cultures, the dwelling (or significant parts of it) are regarded as being within the female domain, therefore, the extended presence of male members of the household within the home must inevitably affect gender roles and relationships within households.
kept out for prospective customers while doing some household work which ensures that not a single minute is wasted in sitting idle and waiting for customers in the shop. In a family shop, work and the reward for it can be flexibly picked up and laid down according to family convenience, all within a building which also serves as warehouse and home. The shop owner is probably earning less than he/she could in a formal shop or supermarket but he/she would be reluctant to give up the shop because it offers income and employment opportunities for the children and others in the family. Many women and children are not available for full-time employment but can divide their time between household chores, education and home-based enterprises.
Conclusion In a country like India where sacred dimensions of home are clearly defined, various barriers do pose problems specially where the work Lac Bangles | Page 58
But due to rapid increase in urban population there is greater privatization and dependence on free market which means that the lower income households will have to generate income from their own resources and network. The barriers present in sacred terms of household will have to let go. This in turn will lead to increase in innovative survival strategies by these households which include home based enterprises. So the meaning of home will be redefined in near future maybe amongst the urban spaces as well while artisan families like that of Achalpur continue setting an example of such symbiotic existence. There was no gender bias present in terms of work, attending to customers etc. Sometimes in home based industry to work to be done within the walls of the house are assigned to females for obvious reasons, but not in this cluster. Women were equally conversant and had fair share in the running of the enterprise. Even the newlywed girl visiting her parents there was participating and kept inside decorated. This shows that the family based income generation system present here is a model case: its liberated, profitable and sustainable.
Family Tree
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References Basic Housing: Policies for Urban sites, Services and Shelter in Developing Countries. Laquian, AA. 1983. Ottawa : International Development Research Centre, 1983. The home as workplace: a study of income generating activities within the domestic set up. Tipple, Peter Kellett and A Graham. 2000. s.l. : Environment&Urbanization, 2000, Vol. Vol 12 No 1. http://www.michaelteachings.com/artisan_role.html http://eau.sagepub.com/content/12/1/203.abstract Challenges and Opportunities for Rural lac Bangle Industry: A study of Jhunjhunu District (Rajasthan), Prof. Mamta Bhatnagar; as seen on 24.11.15 Lac – The versatile natural resin, S A Siddiqui; as seen on 28.11.15 Lac Bangles, Shining Through the Ages, Ushasri Ponnaganti; as seen on 02.12.15 Made in Kachchh, Shruthi, 12.07.2013 http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/zoology/lac-insect-for-lac-culture-in-india-lifecycle-of-lac-insect-with-pictures/23833/ http://www.agriinfo.in/default.aspx?page=topic&superid=6&topicid=1524 Plant sciences feed, Bipul Paul, Sajiwan Kumar and Anand Das Rural Economy of Rajasthan, Rattan Lal Godara http://lacbanglemaker.weebly.com/6-procedure-of-making-bangles.html http://www.craftandartisans.com/lac http://www.craftsinindia.com/lac-bangles/ http://www.indiantravelportal.com/andhra-pradesh/arts-crafts/lacquer-ware. html
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Credits Content Introduction - Shubshree Mathur About - Vindhya Singh Tools , Raw materials , Process - Tripti Parihar Lac Bangles - An unsustainable Craft ? - Nivedita Mukherjee Home as workplace - Shubhshree Mathur Family Tree - Vijaya Rajendra Barge Issues faced by artisans - Nivedita Mukherjee Costing - Dhanya Shenoy Layouting Design and Photography Annapoorani . M Photo editing and Illustrations Vijaya Rajendra Barge