Cane Craft Cluster of Thaikkal by sulakshanas

Cane Craft of thaikkal

The Team

Sneha, content writer and illustrator Tanushree, videographer

sulakshana, layout designer

Ajay, illustrator

mansi, photographer

niranjan, artist

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai

Cane craft Thaikkal, Nagapattinam District Tamilnadu

FIG 1:Man sitting in a tea shop in Thaikal

acknowledgement We, the students of Fashion and Lifestyle Accessory design department, National institute of fashion technology Chennai , semester V(2017-21) would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Textiles Government of India for providing us with the opportunity to be a part of the craft research and documentation. We would like to thank our director Dr. Anitha Mabel Manohar, Centre coordinator Mr. Beeraka Chelapathy and Mr. Uday Raj the cluster initiative coordinator for facilitating our craft study. A special thanks to Mr. Skeikh Dawood, the owner of the store in the cluster, Thaikkal for providing us with adequate information anad enriching us with knowledge about the craft. Finally we thank all the artisans of Thaikkal, Nagapattinam for their valuable time and cooperation.

FIG 2:Woman selling poo outside a temple in Kumbakonam

preface India is a very rich and diverse country in terms of craft, crafts which have been existing for a very long period of time. It has been one of the biggest identities of the country and has undoubtedly contributed to the magnificence of the country. Yet there is a decline in the craft sector and slowly the number of crafts being practiced has been diminishing. Hence in a attempt to revive the crafts of our country and give them new interventions to match up with the current requirements and standards, people from various backgrounds like designer,architects,NGOs and especially students are trying to study the craft and come up with a solution, so that the significance and value of the craft can reach more people and the products can be used by a lot more. One such attempt was our trip to Thaikal, Thaikkal is a small Village/hamlet in Kollidam Block in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu State, India. It comes under Anaikaranchatiram Panchayath. Before we went to Thaikal we did our secondary research on the rattan craft of Thaikal and found out that more than 500 families were once doing this craft. Thaikkal was one of the prominent village in Tamil Nadu which was known for its Korai pai craft and rattan furniture craft. We were a team of six members, curious about the craft and interested in reviving it. This exploration we held in Thaikal was for us to be able to research about the craft and interact with the artisans. We experienced the lifestyle of the artisans, saw their workspace, And how they make the rattan funitures. Our motive was to do a research and document the cane craft of Thaikal and understand the complete process of it.

Day 1

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Day 2 -

FIG 3:A tea shop on Thaikal street

Day 4 - observatio n and interviewing

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daywise objective in thaikkal village

suring the Day 6 -mea workspace

Day 9 - Exploring art and architecture of nearby places

Day 7 - Visiting the retail store in Kumbakonam

ing Day 8 - Visit m Chidambara

Contents S. no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Title Handicrafts, The world, India and Tamil Nadu Origin of Rattan Rattan, cane and wicker Significance of cane Ecology of rattan Harvesting the cane Historical evidences of the craft Rattan – a world study History of cane craft in India Establishing roots in Tamil Nadu Rattan travels to Thaikkal Thaikkal village Thaikkal – a macro study The origin of muslim weavers and rattan furniture makers The Labbai muslims The craft cluster Workspace and layout Artisan profile Pre production – raw material Tools Process

Pg no 1 4 5 8 9 11 13 15 17 21 23 26 28 43 47 52 53 55 69 77 83

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

The Labbai muslims The craft cluster Workspace and layout Artisan profile Pre production – raw material Tools Process Post production – packaging and transportation Product range Products in Bismi/Friends traders Market study – The world Present and future market of the craft Marketing Problems faced Swot analysis of cane craft in Thaikkal Other crafts – Korai pai weaving Gallery Conclusion Biliography

47 52 53 55 69 77 83 101 103 109 117 119 120 121 123 125 127 131 133

FIG 4:Some tools used for the craft

handicrafts - The world, indian and tamil nadu Handicraft has its roots in the rural crafts, the material-goods necessities of ancient civilizations and many specific crafts have been practiced for centuries, while others are modern inventions, or popularizations of crafts which were originally practiced in a limited geographic area. Many artisans use natural, even entirely indigenous, materials while others may prefer modern, non-traditional materials, and even up cycle industrial materials. The individual artisanship of a craft item is the paramount criterion; those made by mass production or machines are not handicraft goods. Handicrafts are part of a much larger home accessory market, which includes handcrafted, semi handcrafted, and machine-made goods. The home accessory market is strongly influenced by fashion trends, consumer purchasing patterns, and economic conditions in end markets.

Handicrafts are unique expressions of a particular culture or community through local craftsmanship and materials. With increased globalization, however, products are becoming more and more commoditized and artisans find their products competing with goods from all over the world particularly in China and other Asian countries. The home accessory market, often used to estimate the demand for handcrafted goods, is strongly influenced by fashion, consumer purchasing patterns, and economic conditions in end markets. Keeping up with frequently changing market trends presents a major challenge for handicraft exporters.

India is a country of rich culture, history and traditions. India is one of the major producer and supplier of Handicrafts products in the world and has been major producer and supplier of handicrafts products since very long time. Before the industrial development, handicraft industry was a potential economic advantage for the country.

Handicrafts are an important productive s ector and export commodity for many developing countries. The growth of international markets for home accessory products and an increased interest in global goods have opened up new market opportunities for artisans. Despite widespread production, however, there is a lack of common definition of handicrafts, although various attempts have been made to characterize this broad and rather unstructured sector

The Handicraft sector is highly creative and produces large variety of crafts products. This industry is localized segment of the domestic and international market. In India the production of craft products are done on both large and small scale. Because of low capital investment people start their business on small scale. Through this flexibility the demand and supply can be managed. There is huge demand for the Indian Handicraft products in both national and international market. To match the demand and supply with quality, there is need to have greater technological support and innovativeness with the uniqueness in industry.

During recent years, the importance of handicrafts has been surged due to their cultural and financial values. The small scale industries including handicrafts can play a major role in the development of the economy of both d eveloped and the developing countries equally.

Tamilnadu has a rich history of culture and tradition that has evolved over centuries. The handicrafts of Tamilnadu pass on history and culture from one generation to the other. Perhaps the beauty of Tamilnadu itself is because of its various traditional values and representing them as handicrafts. By promoting the various ethnic art forms, simultaneously preserving antique artefacts from Chola and Pandya dynasties by reproducing their replicas, Tamilnadu has become a world-known destination for pilgrims of art in search of fine handiworks of India, such as life-like, Stone Sculptures, Celestial figures in Bronze, Brass lamps, Rosewood Carvings, Sandalwood Carvings, country wood Carvings, Tanjore Art Plates, Tanjore Picture Paintings and much, and much more.

FIG 5:Poo being sold outside the temple

FIG 6:A topshot of the workspace FIG 7(right): Woman preparing garlands

The origin of Rattan

An Introduction to the evolution of the craft worldwide India is rich in species diversity of bamboo and cane. Bamboo diversity consists of 18 genera and 134 species. The distribution of bamboo in different forest types and agro climatic regions indicate the tremendous potential of bamboos to grow in a wide variety of soil and climatic conditions. The live collection of bamboo in the form of germplasm banks will enable the local artisans, bamboo growers and farmers to get first-hand information about the morphological features, aesthetic properties and growth characteristics of these plants. The germplasm banks will also serve as ex situ conservation plots for the preservation of the invaluable resource base for propagation, multiplication and cultivation needs of farmers, bamboo growers and artisans. KFRI has already established a Bambusetum for sympodial bamboos at Field Research Centre, Velupadam, Chalakudy Forest Division of the Central Forest Circle, Thrissur. This activity was undertaken to strengthen the bamboo germplasm at KFRI by adding more species and to establish a new germplasm for species of sympodial bamboo and those of cane used in handicrafts.

Cane is distributed in three major regions, Western Ghats, North Eastern States and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Of these, 25 species occur in Western Ghats, 19 species in North Eastern States and 18 species in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Each region has its own cane flora and the species are not overlapping. Due to habitat destruction and over exploitations many of the species have become endangered and some of the species are even under the threat of genetic erosion. A live collection of different species is essential for conservation and propagation.

cane, rattan and wicker Wicker is a collective term that is used to refer to any type of woven furniture such as reed, rattan, cane, seagrass, and bamboo among others. In addition, wicker pertains to the very act of weaving or also means the finished woven furniture that is made from weaving different materials to form an article of furniture.

Cane is basically a part of the rattan plant. It is produced simply by peeling off the skin of the rattan vine. This material is then wrapped in solid hardwood, steel, or aluminum frames to create a more appealing furniture item. Cane as a wicker material effectively highlights the mottled coloring and pattern of rattan skin.

It is impossible to describe the difference between rattan, cane, and wicker furniture, as rattan and cane are materials, and wicker is a process. In general, a wicker may refer to a natural or synthetic vine or grass that is then woven into a pattern. The resulting form from the weaving or interlacing materials is aptly called as wickerwork.

One great quality of cane is that it is less porous. This means that it can easily repel spillage. The remaining liquid can be easily wiped down by a dry towel. Canes are highly pliable in nature, thus it is ideally used in the production of chair seats or surface texture to the façade of f urnishings.

Rattan originated from Southeast Asia thus it is inherently a tropical palm tree. It basically grows like a tree, but eventually bends back to the ground like a vines and then snakes through the ground instead. The rattan is known to be one of the strongest woods available. This quality of rattan makes it the ideal material in the production of durable furniture for home use and installation.

As mentioned above, cane is also used in combination with rattan materials so as to highlight it beautifully. Unlike rattan which is most commonly treated and painted, cane is left in its natural round state. In terms of strength,

One common quality between cane and rattan is that both of these are inexpensive wicker materials. Although most of the materials are imported from tropical countries, furniture made from cane and rattan is still considerably cheaper than those made from solid hardwood or plastic. They are also known to be very lightweight in nature. One can easily transport or move them with minimal to no hassle at all. Rattan is mostly used as a different term for cane.

FIG 8:Cane craft products

FIG 9:Frame preperation for the products

Significance of cane Cane is basically a part of the rattan plant. It is produced simply by peeling off the skin of the rattan vine. It is a traditional material for garden furniture. To sit on, cane is warmer and softer than metal, because it does not conduct body heat.Cane is durable , tensile and flexible. Cane is a natural material for use in a natural setting. Cane has a warm soft colour and bends easily into elegant curves.

Cane is also Strong, tensile durable and flexible. Cane has a warm soft colour and bends easily into elegant curves. Another property of cane furniture is its light weight, an advantage when you want to move furniture around and a disadvantage in windy conditions. Cane is used to make chairs, table, benches.

It can also be wrapped in solid hardwood, steel, or aluminum frames to create a more appealing furniture item. As it is quite versatile, it can be designed according to modern trends and styles to enhance both indoor and outdoor decor. The handle of the cricket bat is made using the cane. Cane is tied together in a bundle to make the handle. Cane, being hollow, reduces the impact of the ball when it touches the bat, thereby lessening the force on the forearms and upper arms. Cane has a natural cooling mechanism. Furniture made of cane is much more effective in a house and to the human body than leather sofas. Cane is a traditional material for garden furniture. To sit on, cane is warmer and softer than metal, because it does not conduct body heat. Cane is a natural material for use in a natural setting. 8

ecology of rattan Throughout their natural range, rattan species are found in a wide range of forest and soil types. Some species are common components of the forest understorey, whilst some rely on good light penetration for their development; hence several species are found in gap vegetation and respond very well to canopy manipulation, particularly that caused by selective logging. Other species grow in swamps and seasonally inundated forest whilst others are more c ommon on dry ride tops. Despite this wide range of ecological conditions, the majority of rattans need adequate light for their development. The resultant seedlings will remain for long periods on the forest floor awaiting sufficient light for them to develop, such as a tree fall. This seedling bank is a common feature of the regeneration of most species and is a well-recognised component of forests where rattans occur. Rattans can be clustering (clump-forming) or solitary; some species, such as Calamus sub-

FIG 10:Raw materials

Clustering species sometimes possess up to 50 stems of varying ages in each clump and produce suckers that continually replace those stems lost through natural senescence, or through harvesting. An even more crucial component of sustainability is the monitoring of the exploitation of solitary species. Calamus manan, one of the most commonly exploited rattan species, is single-stenuned; thus the impacts of harvesting of this species are much greater than harvesting from clustering rattans. The stems of rattan These stems are also more prone to subsequent insect attack due to increased starch deposition. The “farming” of scale insects by ants is also a common relationship. The scale insects feed on the rattan phloem cells, secreting a sweet honeydew that the ants then feed on and the ants, in tum, protect the rattan from other predators

FIG 11:Frames prepared for painitng

harvesting the cane Rattans are vigorous climbers with relatively high growth rates, and are thus able to be harvested on a short cycle. For the majority of rattans, stem production from the rosette stage (and the seedling bank) is initiated by exposure to adequate light. Stem elongation is also affected by light and, whilst continuous, varies, usually on a seasonal basis. The harvesting techniques employed in the extraction of rattan have an impact on potential sustainability, particularly for clustering species. The mature stems selected for harvesting are those without lower leaves (i.e. where the leaf sheaths have sloughed off) and usually only the basal 10-20m is harvested; the upper “green” part of the cane is too soft and inflexible for transformation and is often left in the canopy.

In many instances, all the stems in a clustering species may be cut in order to obtain access to the mature stems, even those that are not yet mature enough for exploitation and sale. This is particularly an issue where resource tenure is weak. In general, two simple interventions can be implemented to improve upon rattan harvesting practices: For clustering species: • Younger stems, often indiscriminately cut during harvesting should be left to regenerate and provide future sources of cane. Rotational harvesting systems could be increased if this was the case. However, better “stool management” relies on adequate resource tenure. For all species: • Harvest intensity and rotation should be based on long-term assessments of growth rates and recruitment.

FIG 12:Cane used for detailing

Historical evidences of the craft Rattan was harvested from the wild because of two main advantages: it is both strong and malleable, which makes it accurate for the structuring of crafts including furniture. However, Rattan was relegated to basket weaving since ancient times– scientists have carbon-dated many baskets to as far back as 8,000 B.C., perhaps even further. This predates even pottery, suggesting that rattan – and manyother similar materials – had a key role in shaping human history. Some histories trace the trading of early rattan to its original spot of Indonesia, eventually reaching mainland China through trade. From China, it eventually spread to Japan. Tracing the history of rattan trade throughout Southeast Asia is very difficult due to the problems inherent in dating and finding similar artifacts throughout the world. The spread of ancient rattan may have been aided by the fact that rattan grows year-round; it’s not seasonal like some other plants.

FIG 13: A temple in Chidambaram

EGYPT There is no evidence to link ancient Egyptian wicker to rattan materials; most scholars believe that ancient Egyptian wicker simply came from the lush source of reeds and fiber materials available around the Nile delta. The Nile, of course, was the source of just about every material imaginable to the Egyptians – it’s no surprise that wicker finds its roots there, as well. The Nile wasn’t only a source of reeds, but entire varieties of “swamp grasses.” But soon they realized the importance of rattan once it dried. ROME The Romans were fond of exotic cultures, particularly that of Egypt. In fact, the Romans were happy to absorb the best characteristics of other cultures into their own – They even a dopted the Greek mythology and renamed the god names. Wicker was no exception; Romans not only took to the Egyptian practice but also expanded on it, using wicker weaves to create privacy screens. It may have also been the ancient Romans who came up with the idea of creating swings made of wicker, a practice that continues to this day.

CHINA Chinese contribution of wicker was a very prominent one, since there was a slight change in style observed. The Chinese were especially preoccupied with creating storage boxes that could be lightweight while holding and protecting writings that were deposited therein. Given China’s proximity to the ideal rattan-growing areas of Southeast Asia and Australasia, it may be tempting to presume that China’s history of wicker is even richer than that of Egypt and Rome. However, despite the abundant resources available for wicker weaving in China, some sources say that wicker did not reach China until the 15th century, well after the fall of Rome and especially after the heights of ancient Egypt.

VICTORIAN EUROPE

AMERICA

In the Victorian times, with rattan flourishing in Southeast Asia and a renewed interest in the Roman style during an age of neo-classicism, wicker was one of the cultural imprints of antiquity that encountered a revival during the Renaissance and post-Renaissance years. With the quality of rattan goods produces there was a sudden increase in demand for rattan products. Wicker and cane was also a natural match for meeting the stylistic demands of the day. While elaborate furniture designs may have only been relegated to the upper classes of European in the pre-Victorian age, the age of manufacturing left a middle class that demanded something similar to its style ,even if it wasn’t quite the same price as what might be expected in the upper class.

To Americans, wicker furnishings and luggage were part of the culture they brought with them from Great Britain. The colonials of British Americans brought their own set of skills and materials too. After the Revolutionary War, the state of wicker in America for the most part, didn’t change for several decades. However, a transformation was on the horizon one that would alter the destiny of wicker furniture in America as well as throughout the world. All of the history we’ve gone through thus far has led us to modern wicker and rattan – the history of rattan and wicker furniture as it exists today. There was greater efficiency in manufacturing for a number of items; wicker furniture was no different. And though wicker furniture would still often be hand-assembled, the growing influence of machines meant that wicker furniture could also be more affordably produced.

rattan - a world study The majority of the international rattan trade is dominated by countries of Southeast Asia. By the early 20’11 century, Singapore, despite having a very small rattan resource itself, became the clearing-house for nearly the whole of Southeast Asia and the western Pacific. By the 1970s, Indonesia had become the supplier of about 90% of the world’s cane, with the majority of this going to Singapore for processing and conversion. In the last twenty years, the international trade in rattan and rattan products has undergone rapid expansion. The increases in the value of exports from the major producing countries are indeed staggering 250-fold for Indonesia over 17 years; 75-fold in the Philippines over 15 years; 23-fold over 9 years in Thailand and 12- fold over 8 years in Malaysia (Manokaran, 1990). By the late 1980s, the combined value of exports of these four countries alone had risen to an annual figure of almost US$400 million, with Indonesia accounting for 50% of this trade.

The net revenues derived from the sale of rattan goods by Taiwan and Hong Kong, where raw and partially finished products were imported and then processed, together totalled around US$200 million per annum by the late 1980s. During this same period, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia banned the export of rattan, except as finished products. These bans were imposed to stimulate the development of rattan-based industries in each country and ensuring that the value of the raw product was increased, and (theoretically) to protect the wild resource. Recently, however, given the recession that has hit many countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia has lifted the ban on the export of raw cane and is currently flooding the market with relatively cheap supplies of cane, negatively impacting the cultivation industry of Malaysia in particular

The restrictions in the trade of raw cane by some of the larger supply countries outlined above has encouraged some rattan dealers and gross users to investigate non-traditional sources of rattans, predominantly Indo-China, Papua New Guinea and more recently, Africa. Some raw cane has recently been exported from Ghana and Nigeria to Southeast Asia and there is a flourishing export trade of finished rattan products from Nigeria to Korea. Historically, there has been a significant trade in African rattans. Cameroon and Gabon s upplied France and its colonies (Hedin, 1929), and Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast) supplied a significant proportion of the large United Kingdom market during the inter-war period (Anon, 1934).

FIG 14: Riddon variety of cane 16

history of cane craft in india In the early period in Assam, bamboo was held with special reference and is forbidden to cut in “auspicious days”. It is a general belief that bamboo possesses auspicious character and is of religious significance. It is believed that during the early part of the 7th century AD, cane and bamboo were flourished in Assam under the reign of the king Bhaskar Varman. “Early literature refers to the well-decorated and coloured sital patis (cool mats) used by the rich people. Mats were usually made of cane. The classical writers testify the abundance of cane in the forests of Assam. Ptolemy, for instance, states that to the east of Serica, which we have identified with Assam, there were hills and marshes where canes were grown and used as bridges.

Evidence of the production of other cane articles is also supplied by the ‘Harshacharita’, which mentions stools of cane. The cultivation of bamboo and its use for various purposes are well known. Bana again testifies to this highly developed craft. He states that Bhaskara sent to Harsha ‘baskets of variously coloured reeds’, ‘thick bamboo tubes’ and various birds in ‘bamboo cages’. All these prove that various industrial arts were developed in Assam at an early period and were continued to be practiced till recent times, based on that traditions like those of the craftsmen of other parts of India…” There are no exact records to know the history and origin of the ancient past, history and genesis of the craft of cane products in Assam.

But it is taken into consideration that the craft is done from the misty past with the very dawn of civilization. During ancient days cutting of cane and bamboo was considered as forbidden by the natives of Assam on auspicious days. The people of Assam consider that cane is associated with lot of religious significance and has number of auspicious character. During the early period of the 7th century AD when Bhaskara Varman ruled the state of Assam there was lot of mentions about the flourishing state of cane and bamboo products of Assam. There are records about the cane products like mats and cool mats known as sital pitas which were used by the rich people of the state and they were beautifully decorated and vibrantly coloured.

FIG 15(left):Front view of the workshop FIG 16(right):Detailing being done 18

FIG 17: Temple in Kumbakonam FIG 18:View from outside of Retail shop

The history of cane and its associated products in India is traced back to the 2nd century AD. The cane furniture of India is characterized with features like lucidness and comfort with extreme beauty or aesthetic appeal. Cane is noted for its special property in spite of being quite strong it can also be bendable easily and thus making it ideal for furniture making. In today's scenario cane is seen used in making all types of furniture like chairs, tables, sofas, stools, shoe racks, bookshelves, cabinets, beds, couches, recliners, etc.

Rattans, generally known as canes, are the spiny, trailing and climbing palms of tropical rain forests comprising about 13 genera and 600 species. The maximum distribution of rattans is in Southeast Asia.

The cane products in India are available at different price ranges suiting the budget of all class of people. The North East state in India, Assamis noted for its rich sylvan resources and its forest areas are stocked with bamboos and canes of various species. Cane and bamboo having a wide variety of potential forms an indispensable part of the lifestyle and economy of the people of Assam.

Rattans are an important source of income and employment for the tribes and locals residing near the forest areas. It contributes to 25-35 per cent of the total household income of the tribal communities in north-eastern India. Uses of rattan vary from furniture and other household items to food.

In India, rattans are distributed in three major regions, the Western Ghats, the eastern and northeastern parts and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Rattans are found in the evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests in the country, and comprise about 60 species under four genera Calamus, Daemonorops, Plectocomia and Korthalsia.

In many Asian countries, tribals are using both fruits and young shoots (rich in protein) of some species of rattan as food items. Leaves of some of the rattans are used for thatching.

Entry to India

Traditional cane craft of India

establishing Roots in Tamilnadu The journey of rattan from the North to the South The bamboo and cane crafts of Tamil Nadu include the usage of the fibres of cane or rattan and Tamil reed bamboo. These fibres are used largely for making furniture, bowls, baskets and other house hold items. Tamil Nadu is a place where the raw materials for bamboo and cane crafts can be found in profusion. The dexterous artisans of this land are an added advantage to accelerate the crafts. One of the major products that are made from bamboo and cane is basket. Apart from basketry the local artisans create items like dolls, toys, mats, trays, flower baskets, shopping bags, folding fans etc. with bamboo, cane, grasses, reeds and fibres. Contemporary craftsmen also make utility items like baskets and trays. Another popular item of bamboo and cane crafts of Tamil Nadu include window screens made of bamboo slats and tied with plain or coloured string in designs all over northern India. These are named as ‘chiks’ by the local people.

The main centers of bamboo and cane crafts are to be found in Dharampuri, Salem, Coimbatore, South Arcot and Tiruchirapalli districts of Tamil Nadu. Other centres that are widely known for manufacturing bamboo and cane items involve at Thanjavur and Arcot. Toys and dolls are also produced from grass, bamboo and cane. This craft is mainly centered at Dharampuri, Salem, Coimbatore, South Arcot and Tiruchirapalli Districts. The bamboo and cane crafts of Tamil Nadu are getting foreground in the local market through various exhibitions and Indian trade scheme. The government is planning to promote this craft which has a bright future by providing aids and encouraging the artisans to occupy the local as well as the market of the country.

FIG 19: Glimpse if the workspace 22

Rattan travels to Thaikkal Cane has been growing extensively in Assam for many decades now and the art of crafting baskets from cane started there. The people of Assam started to cut down the cane and started making small handicrafts out of it. Gradually the craftsmen started making baskets. Once the baskets were made, the Assamese craftsmen would sell their products in the markets of Kolkata and Bombay. During the time, around 50-60 years ago, Bombay was flourishing in terms of new job opportunities and innovative ideas and people from all over the country of all religions and races came to Bombay in search of a living and to establish themselves. People from madras who went to Bombay learned the art of cane basket weaving and brought it back to madras where they established one of the first units in basket weaving, slowly; they also understood the unique properties of cane and realized that furniture too 23

As people from the villages and towns of Tamilnadu came in search of jobs to madras, they picked up the craft, expanded the product range and brought it back to their native villages. Muslims owned a majority of land in Thaikkal and they established the cane craft units in the area. Korai pai making was a part of Thaikkal much before the cane units were established. Nearly 50 years ago, the market had demand for korai pai peaked and people thronged the streets of Thaikkal to buy mats. The Muslims of the area grabbed this opportunity and established cane clusters right next to the korai shops and fields and along with korai, cane units also flourished in Thaikkal. The Hindus of Sirkazhi, The Muslims of Nahar and the Christians of Velaikkani all came to Thaikkal to buy korai mats and cane furniture for their homes, temples, mosques, and churches. Around 300 people practice cane craft in Thaikkal to date.

FIG 20: Cane craft store on Thaikal street 24

FIG 21: Map study of Thaikkal village

Thaikkal village

Rattan gives life and livelihood to the people of Thaikkal Locality Name : Thaikkal

Pin Code : 609102

Block Name : Kollidam

Post Office Name : Anaikaranchatram

District : Nagapattinam

Political party in Thaikkal: AIADMK , VCK are the major political parties in this area.

State : Tamil Nadu Language : Tamil Time zone: IST (UTC+5:30) Elevation / Altitude: 6 meters. Above Seal level Assembly constituency : Sirkazhi assembly constituency Assembly MLA : bharathi.p.v Lok Sabha constituency : Mayiladuthurai parliamentary constituency Parliament MP : RAMALINGAM. S

Reaching Thaikkal: By Rail: Arasur Rail Way Station ,Kollidam Rail Way Station are the very nearby railway stations to Thaikkal. Thaikkal can also be reached from the town nearby, Chidambaram. By bus: Chidamaram and mayiladuthurai are the main bus stops there. Buses ply from there directly or start at chennai, Tanjore and Trichy and pass by chidambaram and mayiladuthurai. local buses ply from mayiladuthurai to chidambaram with dropping point at thaikkal, vaitheeswaram koil and kollidam

FIG 21:Tools 27

Thaikkal - a macro study Thaikkal is a small Village hamlet in Kollidam Block in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu State, India. In Tamil Nadu, most of the bamboo based industries are located in Nagapattinam district. According to 4th all India census on micro, small and medium enterprise(MSME ) released in 2009 which enumerated the information about the various industrial clusters, micro, small and medium level enterprises are spread all over India.

There are 350 industrial clusters which were identified in Tamil Nadu state. .Out of 350, only one bamboo based industrial cluster is located at Thaikkal, Thulasiyeandrapuram villages in Kollidam block of NagapattinamdistrictIt is governed by Peraiyur Panchayath. 23 KM towards North from District head quartersPerambalurand 14 KM from Veppanthattai, it is a calm, quiet and green village surrounded by paddy and maize fields. It lies 272 KM from State capital Chennai Buses from mayilduthurai, Sirkazhi and Tanjore frequent the area. The main street in Thaikkal connects puthur and kollidam.

On either side of the street craftsmen sit and weave kora mats and fire cane. On one half of the street kora mats are hung on the walls and craftslem sit by the room weaving the grass together. On the other half are more muscular craftsmen holding one end of a long piece of cane with their hand and the other end with their toes. They slowly pass the cane through a blow torch and the cane arches with a slight bend. Two kms from there, river kaveri flows through kollidam, by the side of which kora grass grows extensively

The total population of the village is 3190 comprising 1545 people in Thaikkal and 1645 people in Thulasiyendrapuram. About 35% of the houses are RCC houses, 15% are red tiled roof houses and remaining 50% are huts and houses built under various government schemes. All houses in the village have toilet and electricity facilities. Overhead Tanks, hand pumps and borewell facilities gives the drinking water to the inhabitants.

FIG (left):Top shot of the workspace FIG 22:Tools

Groundwater is available in 20ft - 25ft and no underground drainage facility was installed in the village. This village has local municipal workers assigned to collect the garbage from all the houses in the village on a daily basis. Thaikkal doesn’t have proper waste management system. Daily one tractor load of garbage is collected from the houses and just dumped along the banks of Kollidam river Almost 95 percent of the people are Muslims and their burial ground is located near the Mosque in the centre of the village. Road facilities are available in all places of the village. In few streets, the government has laid cement roads. Thaikkal village contains one Elementary school in Santhathoppu and one higher secondary school in Thulasiyendrapuram. There is one Anganwadi located in the village inside the Thulasiyendrapuram High school. There is a ration shop available in TPM Nagar of the village. The government is supplying entitled goods through PDS on every Wednesday of the week through that shop. More than 60% of the villagers are employed in Rattan and Korai mat industry.

FIG FIG FIG FIG FIG FIG

23: Thaikkal Mosque 24:Thaikkal river 25:Petrol pump on Thaikkal street 26:Parotta preperations 27:Thaikkal bus stop 28:Thaikkal river

Other people are working in small shops, hotels. Most youngsters aspire to go abroad like Middle east, Malaysia and Singapore and work as skilled or unskilled labours. Women in the village are involved in finishing jobs in rattan or korai mat industry mostly from inside the house. More than 90% of the villagers are literate. The nearest government hospital is in zMaahanampattu which is two km’s from the village. The women self-help groups are not involved in an employment generation activity. They loan the money they get from banks to meet their general financial needs. As stated earlier, there are 500 bamboos and cane-based furniture industries in Thaikkal with an annual production of Rs 2 crore and providing employment opportunities for over 5000 workers. 32

Religion, beliefs and influences Chidambaram is a neighbouring town located in the Cuddalore district. It is the nearest town to Thaikkal and the religion and beliefs are associated with legends of Chidambaram. According to Hindu legend, in the Thillai forests resided a group of sages who believed in the supremacy of magic — that the gods could be controlled by rituals and mantras. Shiva, hearing this, assumed the form of Bhikshatana, a s imple mendicant seeking alms, and went walking in Thillai. He was followed by his consort, Vishnu as Mohini. The sages and their wives were enchanted by the beauty of the pair. On seeing their womenfolk enchanted, the angry sages performed a ritual to create serpents. Shiva lifted the serpents and donned them as ornaments on his matted locks, neck and waist. Further enraged, the sages invoked a fierce tiger, whose skin was used by Shiva as a shawl around his waist. Then followed a fierce elephant, which was ripped to death and devoured by Shiva (an episode depicted in the Gajasurasamhara). 33

FIG 29:Stone sculptures in Kumbakonam 34

FIG 30: Glimpse from our visit to Chidambaram

The sages gathered all their spiritual strength and invoked the powerful demon Muyalakan — a symbol of complete arrogance and ignorance. Shiva smiled gently, stepped on the demon’s back to immobilise him, and performed the ÁnandaThandavam (the dance of eternal bliss), thus disclosing his true form.

The sages surrendered, realising that rituals cannot control the gods. The cultureand religion of Thaikkal is influenced by the town of Chidambaram. Thaikkal is also home to a lot of Muslims who owned land in the area much before independence. 95 percent of the cane units are mostly owned by Muslims with some Hindus working under them. The craftsmen of the area were also involved in making cane chariots for the British and the kings much before independence.

FIG 31:Temple view

FIG 32:Mayiladuthurai bus stop

Weather, climate and geography The topography is almost plain with forests around the town, with no major geological formation. There are no notable mineral resources available in and around the town. The soil types are alluvial and red that are conducive for crops like paddy, pulses and chili peppers. The temperature ranges from a maximum of 32.7 °C (90.9 °F) to a minimum of 24 °C (75 °F). Like the rest of the state, April to June are the hottest months and December to January are the coldest. Chidambaram receives an average of 10 mm (0.39 in) annually, which is lesser than the state average of 1,008 mm (39.7 in). The South west monsoon, with an onset in June and lasting up to August, brings scanty rainfall. Bulk of the rainfall is received during the North East monsoon in the months of October, November and December. The average number of rainy days ranges from 35-40 every year

Sources of water Pichavaram Lake

Veeranam Lake

Kollidam River, also called Coleroon River, river, east-central Tamil Nadu state, southeastern India. Formed by the northern bifurcation of the Kaveri (Cauvery) River just west of Srirangam, the Kollidam River flows in an easterly and then northeasterly direction for about 95 miles (150 km) and empties through several mouths into the Bay of Bengal roughly equidistant between the Puducherry (north) and Karaikal (south) sectors of Puducherry union territory on the coast. The Kollidam is the major northern stream of the Kaveri delta. The river was dammed in 1836 to help provide irrigation water for the delta, the most fertile and densely populated region of southern India, noted for its rice production. The town of Chidambaram lies on its banks.

Thaikkal

Kollidam River

Veeranam Lake (Veeranarayanapuram Lake) is located 14 km (8.7 mi) SSW of Nattarmangalam in Cuddalore district in the state of Tamil Nadu inSouth India. 1 km (0.62 mi) from kattumannarkoil. As the length is 14 km this is the longest man made lake in the world. The credit goes to ancient people who have done this job with ordinary hand made tools. Veeranam Lake was built in the Tenth Century during the time of Greater Cholas, from 907–955 AD[3] and is an 16-kilometre (9.9 mi) long dam in northern Tamil Nadu. It was created by Rajaditya Chola. he named it after a title of his father Parantaka I Chola. This veeranam lake gets water fromKollidam via Vadavaru River. The lake remains dry for the major part of the year. Chola princess KUNDAVI used to come for refreshment at the banks of Veera-

A serene island located far off from cities, Pichavaram is famous for the mangrove forests. Pichavaram mangrove forest has the distinction of being the second largest mangrove forest in the world. Pichavaram is situated in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, near to Chidambaram. It is situated between the Vellar estuary and Coleroon estuary in north and south respectively. The Pichavaram mangroves and Killai backwater originate from the Vellar-Coleroon estuarine. The mangrove has an area about 1100 hectare and is parted from the sea by a sandbar. The Pichavaram ecosystem is consist of many rare species. The place is accessible by road from Chidambaram, bus from Pondicherry and a four hour drive from Chennai.

FIG 33: Different views of the kollidam river 40

Celebrating Festivals The major festival celebrated in Chidambaram is the Natyanjali Dance Festival which takes place in the month of February-March for a period of five days. It starts on the day of MahaShivaratri.Participants come from different parts of the world to take part in this cultural performance. The other festivals celebrated here are MarkazhiThiruvadhirai in the months of December - January and Adi Thirumanjanam in June. The festival of PanguniUthiram is also celebrated here during March. During these two seaons. People also flock to Thaikkal and as its one the way to Chidambaram, stop to but rattan furniture for their homes.

FIG 34:Girls prepared for BharatNatyam performance at the temple

the origin of Muslim weavers and rattan furniture makers 95 percent of the people of Thaikkal are Muslims. The Muslims in the area owned large portions of land much before independence and they are the ones owning the cane units and industries in the area. The age - old trade contact between South India arid Arabia from the Sangam period (2nd cent A.D.) got strengthened further after the birth of Islam. The spread of Islam was closely linked with the expansion of the wide-ranging maritime trade network. These merchant missionaries also spread the message of Prophet Mohamed among the local population and people were attracted towards Islam.

A chain of Muslim trading settlements grew up along the east coast from Pulicat to Colochel in Kanniyakumari. Many of their richest settlements were located in the coastal towns of Thanjavur, Ramanathapur am and Thirunelveli districts. They had links with the wider trading world of the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Ocean. The port towns of theCoromandel coast came to be identified as centers of formal Islam in South India by the 12-13th centuries. The localities such as Pulicat, Nagapattanam, Kilakkarai and Kayalpattanam contained significant number of Tamil speaking Muslims who could be classed as permanently professing Islam and were actually recognised as such within the wider society.

The Arab merchants who came to the coastal region of peninsular India for the purpose of trade either contracted marriages or settled in their places of adoption and married local women temporarily or permanently. The Arab mariners must have practiced a sort of Mutamarriage (temporary marriage with a woman for a stipulated period) while they were in the ports of south India. They usually married the local women and stayed with them for a few weeks or months. The advantages were two fold; they secured not only a wife but also a place for board and lodge. The children born out of such marriages belonged to the mother’s stock and remained with the mothers

FIG 35:Kora grass fields in Thaikkal village

FIG 35: Artisans of cane furniture workshop

The native Hindu rulers of south India like Rashtrakutas, Kakathyas, Hoysalas, Pandyas and Zamorines encouraged the settlements of the Muslim traders in their dominions offering special concessions and inducements because of the profitable foreign trade. Further, the Arabs were favoured because they supplied horses to the south Indian states, cavalry and men for manning their ships. In return, the rulers assured safety to their merchandise and person. The Zamorine even gave them freedom to convert his subjects to Islam.

Achhcu Katti were also a part of Labbai weavers. The term Accu has more than one meaning like mould, mark, print, stamp, weavers’ reed, instrument for pressing down the threads of the wool; comb, like frame in a loom throughwhich they are pressed or battened together, Katti or Kattu is to tie or join.

This community is densely populated in and around Salem, Namakkal Trichy andThanjavur districts, the textile areas of Tamil NaduThis community speak a different language which not have script form, but onlysound. This community He issued an edict that in order to get sufficient also does not find a place in any government renumber of Muslims to man his navy, one or more cords. The main reasonis the inferiority complex male members of the Hindu fishermen should be due their low economic status. brought up as Muslim

They record ‘Labbai’ as theircommunity and Tamil as their mother tongue. They are also declared as educationally backward in TamilNadu. These are the main groups of Muslims practicing weaving and rattan furniture making in Thaikkal. The term Accu has more than one meaning like mould, mark, print, stamp, weavers’ reed, i nstrument for pressing down the threads of the wool; comb, like frame in a loom throughwhich they are pressed or battened together, Katti or Kattu is to tie or join. This community is densely populated in and around Salem, Namakkal Trichy andThanjavur districts, the textile areas of Tamil NaduThis community speak a different language which not have script form, but onlysound. This community also

The Labbai Muslims Labbai are one of the four Muslim groups in Tamil Nadu State. The Ravuttan, Marakkayar, and Kayalan form the rest of the Islamic community. According to tradition, the name “Labbai” was given to them by the Arabs, meaning “Here I am.” Previously the Labbais were few in number and were under the control of other Muslims and Hindus. In order to get their attention and be recognized, the Labbais Traditionally would cry loudly, “Labbek,” meaning “We are your servants.” These sects were not divided on the basic of economic importance but on the basis of the profession they pursued. The Labbais were traditionally weavers of pattamadai and this community speread to places like Thaikkal and Thenkasi carrying their traditional craft with them.

FIG 36: Artisan preparing frame for cane furniture 47

The Labbais worship as Muslims and recently this has had great influence on their life expectations. About 80 percent of the Muslims in Tamil Nadu are Muslim Tamils and the remaining 20 percent include the Mapillas and Urdu speakers such as Sheikh, Sayyid, Sharif, Pathan, Ismaili, Navayat, Daudi Bohra, and Wahabi. Labbais and Ravuttans follow the Hanafi school, a branch of the Sunni sect. Their Religious practices demonstrate an orthodox way of living where men and their children go to the mosques to pray, while women stay at home to pray. Religious books are in Arabic and hold a sacred position. It is considered a duty to publish books in Arabic and distribute them among people. The Muslims do not recognize the caste system of Hindus, even though in the rural areas they are recognized as ethnically different from Hindus and are categorized as a separate caste. Girls do not marry before puberty. They practice the Islamic ritual except in some areas where they have adopted a Hindu wedding ceremony. Marriage with a mother’s brother’s daughter is the ideal, if and only if she is the right age. Kin marriages are common to hold together the ties between families, but no marriage occurs with parallel cousins. Family gatherings and visits are used by the older family members to find mates for their young ones. FIG 36: Artisan assembling Kora grass 48

The origin of the Labbais is not clear, but a few speculations have been recorded. In the Census Report, 1891, they are described as “a mixed class of Muhammadans, consisting partly of compulsory converts to Islam made by the early Muhammadan invaders and Tippu Sultān.

There is still a considerable trade, although diminished, between Kilakarai and the ports of Burma and the Straits Settlements. It is carried on entirely by Muhammadans in native sailing vessels, and a large proportion of the Musalmans of Kilakarai have visited Penane and Singapore.

The Labbais are descended from the latter group. Another version says that the Labbais are descendants of Arabs who came to India in the eleventh and twelfth centuries for trade.

The Labbais of the south arcot district are often growers of betel, especially round about Nellikuppam, and they also conduct the skin trade of the district, are petty shop-keepers, and engage in commerce at the ports.

But these Arabs were persecuted by the Moguls and were forced to flee the country, leaving behind their belongings and children born to Indian mothers. Some Lubbais or Labbis, also made a livelihood by shooting pigeons with blow-guns. The ‘guns’ are purchased by them in Singapore from Bugis traders, and brought to India.

The Labbais very generally wear a high hat of plaited coloured grass, and a tartan (kambāyam) waist-cloth, and so are not always readily distinguishable in appearance from the Marakkāyars, but some of them use the Hindu turban and waist-cloth, and let their womankind dress almost exactly like Hindu women.

In the same way, some Labbais insist on the use of Hindustāni in their houses, while others speak Tamil. Adhering to the rule of the Korān, most of them refuse to lend money at interest, but get over the difficulty by taking a share in the Their women are clever at weaving mats from the profits derived by others in their loans. screw-pine (Pandanus fascicularis), which grows so abundantly along the sandy shore of the Bay They are, as a rule, well-to-do, and excellently housed. The first thing a Labbai does is to build of Bengal. himself a commodious tiled building, and the next to provide himself with gay attire.

The craft unit Friends/Bismi traders Owner – Sheikh Dawood Artisans: Gurumoorthy, Habibullah, Abdullah, Rajendran, There are a total of 10 people in the shop and each person reports to the studio at 7 am and works until 9 pm. They don’t get weekend off and continue to work even during festival holidays. Sheikh Dawood built the workshop only ten years ago but has been dealing cane ever since. The artisans in his workshop are very much experienced and are very much experienced in the craft of rattan firniture making. The cluster is located in Thaikkal street Kollidam and is surrounded by many similar clusters. It is located near a mosque and is only a hundred metres away from Thaikkal bus stop.

workspace and layout

When we went around the streets of Thaikal we found a small unit of 5 people working in a not so big workspace. The workspace was the first thing that caught our eye; it was divided into 3 parts, the front where the starting process of the rattan furniture is done- cutting and bending. This portion has a “olai ellai veedu “ set up and has a lot of space, since the artisans had to move around , put the cane down, cut it and measure it. The second portion had a proper 3 wall brick set up, here is where the furniture is tied and detailing is done. The different varieties of cane and rattan are stocked up here.The back portion has a big water pit where they put the canes to soak and there is a pump with government water connection. There is also a small room with paints, varnish and brushes. The back space is used to do the detailing and finishing of the furniture. 53

Frame Bending and making workspace

Nailing and detailing workspace

Nailing, detailing, soaking and varnishing workspace FIG 36,FIG 37,FIG 38:Different views of the cane unit 54

Artisan profile Skeikh Dawood was the person who took us around the cluster and explained the process of procuring raw material and told us about how the craft evoloved. Rahmadullah, his friend also took active interest in telling us about the proud craft of their native and even though he wasn’t an artisan, he kept keeps coming to the workshop and observing the artisans. While the other artisans were busy completing their pieces required per day, Rahmadullah and Sheikh Dawood were kind enough to answer all our questions

FIG 39: Dealer and store owner 55

Sheikh Dawood Age: 50 Designation: Dealer and store owner Specialization: Marketing The Sheikh owns the workshop and two retail stores; both in Kumbakonam named Bismillah traders. He runs his business under the name “Friends Traders”. He owns a godown near Thaikkal bus stop, stores raw material in a few streets away and makes cane furniture in the main workshop. The workshop was built only 15 years ago but the craftsmen working under him have over 2030 years of experience in rattan furniture making and kora mat weaving. The Sheikh grew up in Thaikkal and his father too was a businessman. He started by working as a cane dealer in Thaikkal, moved on to Dubai and Saudi Arabia and found work as a PRO for other companies. He worked there for nearly 23 years and came back to Thaikkal and expanded the cane business to the production of cane furniture. He remains to supply raw material to the rest of the village. He held a high position as the secretary of the Muslim league in Thaikkal and is actively part of the Muslim league of Thaikkal. Has has also actively taken part in a lot of social work involing blood donations and heart transplants in the 56 area.

FIG 40: Mastercraftsman FIG 41:Mastercraftsman doing detailing on the furniture

Abdullah Age: 55 Designation: Master Craftsman Specialization: Assembling and Nailing The 55 years old craftsman has been a part of cane furniture making for 25 years. Abdullah was a little hesitant when we asked questions about his lifestyle. Later he opened up about himself. Abdulla’s father was a farmer and Abdulla along with his 5 brothers grew up helping their father with agriculture. He mentioned that he didn’t enjoy much of his childhood, didn’t go to school and didn’t have many friends to play with or work with all he had was his 5 brothers. When his brothers grew old they started making korai pai. Abdulla suddenly felt that he didn’t have anything to do and he was also not educated. For a few years he joined his brother with korai pai making. Later, Abdulla joined under Sheik Dawood in cane furniture making. Abdulla ties the hammered cane together with the “perambu ellai “ (cane peel).Abdulla ties around 2 to 3 oonjal pieces per day. He mentions that he faces a lot of difficulties in working, being seated in the same place and tying the perambu. Abdulla has 2 sons aged 25 and 16 who are also a part of cane furniture making.

Rajendran Age: 35 Designation: Master Craftsman Specialization: Assembling and Nailing The master craftsman has been a part of kora mat weaving cane furniture making for nearly 20 years. During his time, people thronged to buy Korai pais of Thaikkal village and he started by operating the korai pai machines of that area. His father did the same before him and his grandfather was into agriculture. Since the supply of electricity kept fluctuating in Thaikkal, the workers would have to stand idle and wait for hours. Rajendran describes those times when he used to wait and watch people bend and fire canes to make furniture and use his free time to help the workers nail the canes together. Fascinated by this craft, he took to it immediately and since the demand for korai pais were also growing lesser by the year, he switched his profession and has been working under the sheikh ever since. Rajendran said he lives in a parambara keethu veedu (Ancestry Kutcha house) and has two daughters, aged 4 and 11.Rajendran knows to read and write Tamil language.

FIG 42: Mastercraftsman FIG 43:Assembling and detailing being done 60

Gurumoorthy Age: 29 Designation: Master Craftsman Specialization: Cutting, bending and frame making The Mastercraftsman is 29 years old and has been a part of cane furniture making for 20 years. Gurumoorthy had a really tough life when he was a kid. his father was working as a coolie and they never really had a stable lifestyle. After passing 10th grade he tried many jobs along with his brothers. After a few years, Gurumoorthy started working under sheikh dawoor .Gurumoorthy does the main frame by fire bending it and also hammering.Gurumoorthy faced a lot of problems adapting to the work that is bending the cane using fire torch since it involved heat. He is unmarried and has 2 brothers who are also a part of cane furniture making.

FIG 44:Mastercraftsman cutting and bending the frame 62

Habbibullah Age: 30 Designation: Assistant Craftsman Specialization: Assembling and Nailing The assistant master craftsman is 30 years old and has been a part of cane furniture making for 20 years. Having brought up in a family Habibullah expressed his love for cane furniture making, he said how fascinated he was with cane furniture making ever since he was a kid. Habibullah also stated that he knows the process of korai pai making. He has been working under sheikh dawoor right after finishing his 10th grade. Habibullah removes the excess coir on the surface of the cane, cuts them to the required size and prepares it for the next process of bending it. He al so knows how to bend the frame to the structure.He has a kid aged 3 years.

FIG 45: Craftsman asembling and nailing the frame 63

Mujib Age: 30 Designation: Assistant Craftsman Specialization: Assembling and Nailing Mujib started off by making cane furniture unlike the others who started with korai mat weaving. His father began his career by working as a korai pai weaver in Thaikkal and had faced many dust nad ask related health issues. He hops from shop to shop in Thaikkal, making cane furniture in different clusters. He later switched to making cane furniture, recognizing the growing demand and market and picked up the skill by simply observing. He has finished his 10th standard and he has been weaving mats and making cane furniture ever since. He earns around 600-700 rupees per day, and is able to complete two oonjals per day. He starting working in Thaikkal but has worked in many places over the country like Lonavala and Kamset in Mumbai. Mujib cleans, heats, bends, paints and finishes the oonjal working under different artisans in different shops. When the demand reduces in Thaikkal, he goes to Pondicherry, Kerala and Karnataka and works there.

FIG 46(left):Craftsman taking cane out of the saoking process FIG 47(right): Assisant craftsman

abdul Rahman Age: 30 Designation: Assistant Craftsman Specialization: Assembling and Nailing Abdul Rahman is the son of Abdullah, the master craftsman in the workshop. He is only 18 years old and he has been working in the cluster for 3-4 months. He paints and varnishes the finished pieces and completes around 30-40 pieces per day. He earns around 200 rupees per day.

FIG 48:Assistant craftsman FIG 49:Craftsman painting the frame

Pre production - raw material 1. cane

Bamboo and cane contribute a lot to the economy and lifestyle of the north-eastern state of Assam. This is mainly because of the fact that the hills and forests of the region have vast expanses of bamboos and canes and the natives, being excellent craftsmen that they are, have learnt to use them for a wide range of purpose in their everyday life. Assam is one of the major places of sourcing. Sheikh Dawood also sources cane from Malaysia and Andaman. Sheikh Dawood mentions that the cane of Assam is known for its excellent flexibility, durability and stability. Some of the areas in Assam which have abundance cultivation of bamboo and cane are the Mizo hills, North Chachar hills, Nowgong and Lakhimpur district.

Sheikh Dawood says that they use two kinds of cane, thick and thin. Thick ones are usually strong durable and not flexible these are used for the basic frames of the furniture whereas thin ones are flexible but not as strong as the thick ones and these are used for the detailing. The cluster uses around 6-7 varieties of cane majorly sourced from Assam. Sheikh Dawood being in the cane selling business for more than 5 years has a good k nowledge about cane and this made his business circle stronger. Sheikh Dawood explains on how the raw materials are transported from Assam to Thaikkal village. Since he knows a lot of dealer from Assam, sheikh informs the dealers 5 days in advance when he is in need of raw materials. A minimum of 3 trucks bring the raw materials all the way from Assam to Thaikal and distribute the materials to the craftsmen of Thaikkal.

Some owners of bamboo-based industries have been purchasing their raw materials from whole sellers of Chennai directly who are doing business at large scale. Some small and medium scale industries owner has been getting their raw material from local retailers which are located at Thaikkal and Kollidam. Individual traders buy the raw materials directly from different agents and dealers who are in link with the suppliers of rattan. Some traders source raw materials from dealers in Chennai and Kolkata Sheikh Dawood explains on how the raw materials are transported from Assam to Thaikkal village. Since he knows a lot of dealer from Assam, sheikh informs the dealers 5 days in advance when he is in need of raw materials. A minimum of 3 trucks bring the raw materials all the way from Assam to Thaikal and distribute the materials to the craftsmen of Thaikkal.

Sheikh also uses the native cane, which he sources from a cane field which is located nearby the Kollidam river. This variety of cane is called “Nattu Perambu” or the native cane.

Thick cane varieties Types Raydon

Uses FurnitureBeds,sofa Police latti

Properties High density and hardness

Size 12ft height

Cost 1.5 inch15piecesDia- 1.5 inch,1 Rs.200 Less flexibility inch,3/4th 1 inch-20 And ½ inch. pieces-Rs.125

Source Assam

3/4th inch -25 pieces-Rs.100

Jatti

Police latti

Galla

Furniture

½ inch-50 piecesRs.60-75 Assam High flexibil- 12-15ft height 1 inch-20 ity pieces-Rs.120 1 inch dia Less hardness 3/4th inch25 pieces-Rs.75,1/2 inch-50 pieces-Rs.50 Low hardness 12 ft height 3/4th inchAssam th and flexibility 3/4 inch dia 25 pieces-Rs.40-50

FIG 50:types of cane 72

Types Jawa sundari

Uses Finishing work Finishing work

Properties Flexible Flexible

Size 12 feet 8mm dia 12 feet 8mm dia

Cost ½ inch-50 pieces –rs.50 ½ inch-50 pieces –rs.50

Source Assam Assam

FIG 51:Types of cane 73

FIG 52:Front view of the retail shop

raw materials 74

2. water Sheikh Dawood mentions that there is water connectivity throughout the area of Thaikal. They get enough water for regular purpose moreover there is a small pump inside the work area through which they fill the water pit. Water is the most fundamental need in the cane furniture making process. The thin canes are soaked in the big water pit, water increases the flexibility of cane. Thin canes are majorly used for detailing, and since it is soaked in water, it makes the process easier for the craftsmen. Sheikh mentions that he pays Rs.150 for water per month.

2. electricity Almost half of the day the craftsmen work outside the room since the process includes cutting, burning and bending which requires a larger space. There are 2 tube lights and 1 fan in the central area, which almost nobody uses unless it becomes dark or it’s a very sunny day. The artisans use most basic tools which do not require

3. gas The craftsmen work around 10 -11 hours a day .The two frame bending craftsmen come a little earlier and start cutting and bending the cane for the main frame. Lately the craftsmen have been making different varieties of swings only. To make the main frame the cane is bent with the help of fire. Few years back the craftsmen firewood for bending cane but now it has been replaced by gas burner. Sheikh Dawood mentions that he buys 18 kg gas cylinder twice a month.1 cylinder costs Rs.150. Gurumoorthy Anna the frame bending master explains that for 18 kg of gas approximately 50 swings can be made. The craftsmen are exposed to heat during the process of frame bending due to which the two frame bending master take 2 days off in a wee. This reduces the gas consumption.

FIG 53: Gas for the burner used for bending the frame 76

FIG 54:Tools

tools 77

1. burner Cane is a solid yet flexible material but not all canes are bent easily. The thin cane variety can be easily hand – bent if soaked in water but the thicker once require great strength to bend. Fire bending is one of the easiest ways to bend a cane. Gurumoorthy Anna demonstrated the frame bending process. He marked the required place that needs to be bent and exposed it to fire. Once the color on the surface of the cane changes to black, Anna slowly bent the cane. He had a wet cloth and used it to wipe the blackish residue on the surface of cane.

2. cutting pliers The craftsmen didn’t use any machinery; they used the basic cutting tools like blades and pliers. Most of the cutting tools wear made by the craftsmen itself. Habibulla the frame bending master mentions that if they use machinery, they would require a proper industrial set up and the craftsmen needs to be trained to use the machines, moreover This would not be feasible. He says the craftsmen feel more comfortable using all the basic familiar tools. 78

3. cutting knife The cutting knife is used to cut the thicker cane variety. The cane is cut to the required size using the cutting knife before it is bent. Sometimes the extras are cut of using the cutting knife.

4. axe saw blade Axe saw blade is used to cut the thicker cane before it is bent.

5. small cutting blade The small cutting blade was made by the craftsmen themselves and it was used to cut the thin variety of cane. Rajendran anna explains that he prefers small cutting blade over pliers, since small cutting blade is handy and easier and faster to cut the cane that is used for detailing. 79

6. NAILS The nails are used to fix the cane pieces together before they are tied using the cane peel. The majorly uses 4 sizes of nails , 1/4th inch, 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 2 and 1/2 inch.

7. NAIL HAMMER The small nail hammer is used to nail the pieces of cane together.

8. KNIFE SHARPENING STONE Since the craftsmen don’t use machines to cut cane and cut by knifes and blades. Cane cutting requires accuracy and hence the craftsmen sharpen their knifes regularly using the

9. INCH TAPE Inch tape is used to measure the size of cane and mark it according to the required design before the cutting process.

10. BRUSHES Thick and thin brushes are used to color the parts of furniture.

11.THINNER, POWDER PAINT AND VARNISH The power is mixed to the thinner and applied to the furniture using brush. The varnish is used for the finishing of the product and is applied using a thick brush .This makes the product look more appealing. 81

process Rajendran Anna explains that rattan furniture making comprises of six to seven steps. Though it sounds easy the result of the product solely depends upon the skills and time management of the artisan. The artisans need great energy and accuracy to make rattan furniture. The process includes Cutting, bending, tying, detailing, painting and finishing. Rajendran anna mentions that even if one artisan lags behind, the whole process gets slower. For making simple a rattan “oonjal” frame bending artisans come very early and start cutting the cane according to the required size and start bending it. This is followed by joining and hammering the parts. To give a extra support and aesthetical look the oonjal, especially the joining area is covered with cane peel. The artisan spends a lot of time tying the peel around the cane. And detailing needs a lot of patience since its mostly covering up the rest of the area with thinner canes. This is where the external decorations are done. In Thaikal we saw a lot of heart shaped, flower shaped patterns. Sheikh Dawood mentions that this whole process is made simpler only with great efforts and skills of the artisans.

FIG FIG FIG FIG

55:Bending(extreme left) 56:Frame assembling 57: Frame detailing 58:Varnishing(right) 84

Out of the 6 varieties the strongest of all that is radon is chosen for frame preparation.

FIG 59: Artisan choosing cane FIG 60: Types of canes 85

The thin canes are thoroughly soaked in the water pit. Although thin canes are flexible, soaking the cane in water increases its property of flexibility and it’s easier for the craftsmen to bend the cane with bare hands. The craftsmen use cutting pliers or small knife to cut the thin cane. The cane is usually cut in 2 ways, straight and slanted. Rajendran the master craftsmen who does the detailing in the furniture mentions that he prefers the slanted cut over straight cut, since it looks more neat.

soaking

FIG 61(top):Cane being soaked in water FIG 62(bottom):Cane used for detailing 86

The 12 feet long, thick cane structure is cut by the frame master according to the design. Firstly the sizes are marked using an inch tape .Later the cane is cut using an axe saw blade, or a cutting knife. The top rugged layer is scraped off using the knife and the nodes are also sandpapered to get a smooth surface. Habibulla Anna mentions that the sizing and accuracy of cutting the cane is very important, and this is the basic step which signifies the final product.

Cutting

FIG 63:(top left)Cutting Sundari variety of cane used for detailing with knife FIG 64:(bottom right)Axesawblade used for cutting cane 87

FIG 65:Axesawblade used for cutting cane 88

frame bending

FIG 66: Gas burner being used for bending the riddon variety of cane for frame perperation 89

After the cane is cut according to the required sizes, it is bent using the fire bending technique. The required area is exposed to the fire and is bent carefully.Since gurumoorthy anna is very skilled and experienced he knows the exact measurements and techniques. Once the cane is bent, the area which was exposed to fire is wiped using a wet cloth. Gurumoorthy anna explains that the fire bending craftsman should be experienced to master the technique. Since the two master craftsmen are always exposed to the heat, they take their days off 2 days in a week.

FIG 67:The frame is manually bended and then the carbon deposit is scrapped off with knife. 90

frame preparation

FIG 68:After frme bending, the artisan measures and marks on the frame with the inch tape.

Frame preparation All the independent pieces are gathered in one place and measurements are marked on each piece. If need be, they are cut to suit the correct size requirement. FIG 69: Cutting is done on the markings and frame is prepared further.

Once the frame is bent, all the pieces are put together according to the design. The master craftsmen has a nails set of various sizes, 1/4th inch, ½ inch , 2 inch and 2 and half inch. Since this hammering process which happens after the bending involves thick canes the master craftsmen used 2 inch and 2 and ½ inch sized nails. To hammer it more precisely, the cane is cut in a few required places too.

frame compilation 93

FIG 70:

detailing 95

Once the whole furniture is hammered and attached, each node is tied using the scrap cane peel, secured tightly. Abdulla anna mentions that the tying process strengthens the furniture and reduces the number of nails used too. Moreover it also used for decorating and covering the nails. The detailing process is where the craftsmen fill the space of the whole structure using thinner cane. Rajendran anna uses a small blade tool and hammers the thin canes according to the design. Rajendran anna mentions detailing provides a lot of scope for design. The more attractive the patterns, the more are the demand. Rajendran anna mentions that there are up to 5 varieties of patterns used for their cane swing.

After the tying up of the scrap cane to strengthen the structure,a final round of nailing is done so that no piece of cane is flying away. This also helps in making the structure look neat.

nailing 97

The furniture is then painted using powder paint. The craftsmen prefers powder paints over liquid paints since they are more expensive Moreover, they also feel the the customers are quite satisfied with the finishing .Rahmadulla explains on how he mixes powder paint to the thinner and paints them in the required places according to the design, generally painted along the borders.

painting 99

The furniture is giver a neat varnish shiny coat and the excess parts are cut off and small coir of canethat projects out is burnt using the burner.

varnishing 100

post production - packing and transportation The finished products is usually unpacked and transported directly through vans/lorries. Sheikh dawood sells the furniture in 3 major places, 1.Retail stores of Thaikkal Once the furniture is made they are transported to the nearby retail outlets in Thaikal. Sheikh mentions that he has bought a tempo particularly for the transportation of cane furniture to retail outlets. The chairs and oonjals are arranged and placed in the tempo and sheikh Dawood himself drops them at the retail stores 2. Two retail stores of his own in Kumbakonam Sheikh Dawood has two rented retail outlets in Kumbakonam. He mentions that both the outlets are managed by his brother in laws. The furniture is transported from Thaikal to Kumbakonam through Sheikh’s tempo. Sheikh mentions that if the quantity is huge he prefers to transport them in a lorry, in order to prevent damage.

3. Narikuravargal Sell them in various parts of Tamilnadu The furniture is sold in various parts of Tamil Nadu by the Andhra Narikuravargal community. Narikurava is an indigenous community from Tamil Nadu, India. The main occupation of people in this tribe is hunting. But as hunting was termed illegal these people were restricted from entering the forest. This forced them to search for other alternatives such as ad selling beaded ornaments. Hence, they migrate from place to place to find a market for their beads.

They sell the furniture in the areas nearby churches, mosques and temples and other famous tourist spots of Tamil Nadu. The Narikuravargal come in two or more lorry, they collect furniture from various clusters and retail stores of Thaikkal and take them to the required destination. Sheikh mentions that it gets slightly difficult during the rainy season since the Narikuravargal cannot travel and transport the furniture.

In the present, Narikuravargal participate in selling the cane furniture of Thaikal in many cities. They collect the products from shops in Thaikkal, transport them through trucks and sell them in platforms of the main areas of the city.

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product range

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The streets of Thaikkal were lined with a variety of cane products ranging from Shelves, chairs, sofa sets, coffee tables, julas, rocking chairs, children chairs tables, drover seats, small baskets. Almost every store in Thaikkal had all the varieties of products. The shops generally stock similar things and almost every shop in the area would look the same. The cane julas are the most popular items, followed by driver seats and chairs. Since the Julas are the most popular they ca=ome in different varieties. The retail stores of Bismi/ Friends traders in Kumbakonam houses almost all the products

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Products in BISMI/friends traders 107

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PRODUCT

PRICE

Small sized shelf

2200

Big sized shelf braided

3000

Small sized chair

Big sized chair

3700

Sofa set and table (1 three seated ,2 single seated)

20,000

Coffee table

2300

550

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Chair and coffee table set

Cradle

6000

Baby rock chair

750

Baby table

550

Driver seat

550

2500

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Handle decorated oonjal 3500

Kooda oonjal

Seat decorated oonjal

Heart decorated oonjal

3500

Flower decorated oonjal

3500

Circular decorated oonjal

4500

3300

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Market study - the world China is the largest producer and exporter of rattan products. In 2012, China exported US$ 1,238 million worth rattan products, which accounted for 66 percent of the world total. It was followed by the European Union, with total export value of US$ 214 million, accounting for 11percent of the world exports.

Bamboo and rattan are mostly traded within and between Asia and Europe: the global export value of bamboo and rattan products from Asia were estimated to be $1565 million; Europe accounted for 38 percent of world imports of bamboo and rattan, making it the world’s largest import market.

The third largest exporter was Indonesia (US$ 176 million, 9%). The main exporters - China, the EU and Indonesia together accounted for 87 percent of world rattan exports. Vietnam, Philippines, USA, Singapore and Thailand were also important exporters of rattan products. According to UN Common trade statistics, the global export value of bamboo and rattan products decreased by 25 percent in 2005, with an average annual decline rate of 6% .

China remains the largest producer and exporter of bamboo and rattan products: the country accounted for 65 percent of the world exports of bamboo and rattan products, with an estimated value of 1207 million.

The continued rise of industrialized bamboo products: the proportion of industrialized bamboo exports rose from 23 percent in 2009 to 29 percent in 2013, as did the value - from $414 million in 2009 to $547 million in 2013.Their was a steady demand for woven products: the proportion of woven bamboo and rattan products remained at 35 percent. Increased demand for bamboo shoots: the proportion of bamboo shoots increased globally despite a reduction in value. 117

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present and future market of the craft c Thaikal has been famous for korai pai over 80 years and has a steady flow of regular tourists. And recently over the last 30 years, rattan furniture took over most of the korai pai stores. These tourists get their orders placed and furniture done before visiting Thaikkal. Most of the stores in Thaikal have a retail outlet. Sheikh mentions that there is no need of marketing since they have regular tourists. Sheikh mentions that though they have regular customers, Sheikh wanted to expand the business, but this was not possible because of less fund. The only drawback they face is that the rattan furniture of Thaikal did not meet the requirements of export quality due to lack of proper industrial set up like China. This can only happen with the support of Indian Government. Sheikh also mentions that he wants to expand and explore the online retailing. The future market Thaikkal can only be maintained and expanded with the help of 119

marketing Kumbakonam retail store-Sheikh Dawood has two rented retail store in the nearby city, Kumbakonam. Both the stores are handled by the brothers of his wife. Sheikh Dawood mentions that he recently bought a new tempo truck by which he transports furniture to the stores of Kumbakonam. Welcome traders- Sheikh dawood also sells his furniture in the korai pai retail stores of Thaikkal. Tourist- Sheikh dawood mentioned that at least yearly once tourist crosses the roads of thaikkal , knowing about its acclaimed craft. These people place orders for furniture to Friend’s traders. Andhra narikuravargal- participates in selling the cane furniture of Thaikal in many cities. They transport the furniture them through trucks and sell them in streets of major areas of the State.

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problems faced 1. Sourcing raw materials:

Transportation of Furniture:

Sheikh Dawood mentions that the workers of Assam go through great efforts climbing the hills to collect cane from forest. Once the cane is harvested, they carry the whole 12 ft long tied cane on top of their heads and walk through the difficult path to reach the storage point. The major problem they face is during the rainy season. Rains make it difficult for them to climb up hills and carry them all the way down. Rainy seasons are a tough time to the artisans because even the traders don’t come to Thaikal to collect the finished product. Hence there will be a lot of unsold stocks left in the goo down.

Narikurava is an indigenous community from Tamil Nadu,India. The main occupation of people in this tribe is hunting. But as hunting was termed illegal these people were restricted from entering the forest. This forced them to search for other alternatives such as ad selling beaded ornaments. Hence, they migrate from place to place to find a market for their beads.

In the present, narikuravargal participate in selling the cane furniture of Thaikal in many cities. They collect the products from shops in thaikal , transport them through trucks and sell them in platforms of the main areas of the city. Rains are the only complication that traders face. During the rainy month like 2. Middlemen Aipasi,kartigai and margazhi these narikuravarSheikh Dawood explains that middlemen flourish gal will face difficulty to travel and transport the in this craft mainly due to problems like raw ma- cane furniture in the truck . During these months terial shortages, transport problems, lack of cap- there will be a lot of furniture stocks left unsold. ital, and limited access to credit and marketing. There is a paucity of information on market forecasts and capacity. There are middlemen who buy the craft items from the artisans on a commission basis and this creates payment problems for the artisans, The challenges in this sector today are proper planning of production, organization of marketing channels, and competitive pricing. 121

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swot analysis of cane craft of thaikkal Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Opportunities:

•Large, diversified potential global market. •Thaikal has a well known history of cane craft •Professional artisans with more than 30-35 years of experiences •Thaikal is known for its beautiful rattan craft. •There is large product variety and range is available because of diversified culture. •Cane craft needs low capital investment. •Lots of artisans being a part of cane furniture making in Thaikal •There is flexible production flexibility. •Very minimum raw materials required to make cane furniture.

•Lack of infrastructure and communication facilities. Sheikh mentions that since there is a lack of infrastructure the cane does not undergo any pre treatment process and hence is not fit for export standards. •Unawareness about international requirements and market. •Lack of co-ordination between government bodies and private players. •Inadequate information of new technology. •Inadequate information of current market trends. •Less interest of young people in craft industry. •Still confined to rural areas and small cities and untapped market. •Lack of promotion of products. •Interest towards the craft and cane furniture making by the next generation is diminishing sharply. •Less knowledge on marketing and online sales. •Difficulty in procuring raw materials during and stocked up finished products during the rainy season. •Improper finishing of finished goods.

•Developing fashion industry requires handicrafts products. •Development of sectors like Retail, Real Estate that offers great requirements of handicrafts products. •Development of domestic and international tourism sector. •Regular visitors during the festive months.

Threats: •Competition in domestic market. •Balance between high demand and supply. •Quality products produced by competing countries like China, South Africa. •Better Trade terms offered by competing countries. •Increased and better technological support and RandD facility in competing countries.

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Other crafts - Korai Pai weaving Mat weaving is an important traditional handicraft of Tamil Nadu which is famous for its korai dry-grass mats. Koi Pai weaving has been in Thiakkal more than 80 years. Mat weavers from here not only create intricate patterns and designs, but mats are multi-coloured and often represent the ornate pallav of traditional silk saree of Tamil Nadu. Mats made with korai grass are extremely delicate and highly valued. Korai grass is found in abundance along the banks of the rivers and its marshy areas in Tamil Nadu. The mats made in Thaikkal have the nut grass sourced from the nearby villages like Olayamputhur, Arasur, Erukur. They cultivate and harvest nut grass in Thaikkal also.

Mats are made in numerous colours and designs. The mats are produced in various sizes and shapes to serve different purposes such as hanging on walls, worshipping, covering the floor, sleeping, etc. Excellent fancy items like bags, purses, baskets and hand-fans are also made from korai grass.In Thaikkal the Korai mat and rattan furniture producers and traders co-exist in the same cluster. Though the availability of raw material for korai mat is not a big concern, as they are raised from surrounding villages, all other concerns as evidenced in rattan producers is also present for korai mat weavers and traders.

Almost all the artisans of current generation are a part of rattan furniture making and not Korai pai. This is because of the decreasing demand of Korai pai weaving. From childhood days these artisans have been watching their fathers and grandfathers making Korai pai and having an awareness of the decreasing demand of Korai Pai they are reluctant in joining the business. When the cane craft came into the market, these artisans was motivated to learn something new and started being a part of rattan furniture making.

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conclusion - scope of the craft Though Thaikal has a good market the future of the craft can only be improved with the intervention of the Government. The scope of the craft can be improved with an industrial set up for the craft which includes a proper set of pre treatment process,Which can meet the requirements of export quality goods. Thaikkal needs a GI since it can highly benefit the artisans. The geographic indication rights enables those who have the rights to use the indication to prevent the use of third party whose products does not confirm the application standards.

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Glossary

Pg 53 “Olai ellai veedu “ Palm leaf House Pg 58 “Perambu ellai “ Cane peel Pg59 “Parambara keethu veedu” Ancestry Kutcha house Pg66 “Korai pai “ Kora grass mat Pg69 “Nattu Perambu” Native cane Pg 78 Tools (all title translation) 2cutting pliers =”vettum idukki” 3 cutting knife =”vetra katthi” 5 small cutting blade =”china katthi” 6.Nails=”Aani” 7.Hammer =”Suthiyal” 8.Knife sharpening stone =”sanom kallu “

Pg 83 “Oonjal” Swing Pg 86 SOAKING-title “Oora vekkardu” CUTTING “Arukardu” Frame bending “frame Valaikardu” Frame preparation “frame arukardu” Frame compilation “frame sekardu” Pg 98 Nailing “Aani adikardu “

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bibliograpgy http://bim.edu/indexnew/pdf/2019/Case%20Study%20on%20RATTAN%20FURNITURE%20AND%20NUTGRASS%20MAT%20CLUSTER%20 OF%20NAGAPATTINAM%20DISTRICT.pdf http://www.onefivenine.com/india/villages/Nagapattinam/Kollidam/ Thaikkal http://rjhssonline.com/HTMLPaper.aspx?Journal=Research%20Journal%20 of%20Humanities%20and%20Social%20Sciences;PID=2018-9-4-33 https://www.ukessays.com/essays/economics/handicrafts.php https://asiainch.org/craft/bamboo-cane-crafts/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277608075_The_Impact_of_ Handicrafts_on_the_Promotion_of_Cultural_and_Economic_Development_for_Students_of_Art_Education_in_Higher_Education http://www.fao.org/3/x5860e/x5860e03.htm http://www.fao.org/3/a-y2783e.pdf https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/may/10/ state-seeks-gi-status-to-give-nagais-thaikkal-rattan-products-aboost-1603112.html

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