Gandhi Shilp Bazaar, which concludes on March 3, is yet to draw crowds
COIMBATORE: The wares of craftspeople, from many a state in the country, are spread out in colourful splendour at the Gandhi Shilp Bazaar. But, that's where the festive mood ends.
As one enters the bazaar, expecting the usual cheer, you are struck by a pall of gloom. You peer into a stall with woollen and cotton rugs from Mirzapur, and no one comes to attend to you. In fact, the stall keeper, a young man from Uttar Pradesh, lies sprawled on the floor, taking a late-afternoon nap, in the blistering heat that's recently hit the city.
You look around, and discover that you are the only customer present at the bazaar. And that's when it all makes sense.
This All India Crafts Bazaar has been on since February 22. Craftspeople from Delhi and Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra, and many other states, have been invited to sell their region specific wares at the VOC Park Ground.
Poor sales
Unfortunately for them, sales have been very weak. Many declare that they have no will to stay till the last official day for the bazaar.
Some of them carry a dull, vacant expression, uninterested to make a sale when you visit their stall. Some others are a lot more vociferous. “Our stall has made a sale of Rs. 100 a day. How are we supposed to make ends meet with that?” a stall keeper demands.
Another one pipes up: “The government only gives us a free stall and transport allowance for two people per stall. We have to pay from our own pockets for the hotel rent, food, transport of our goods from our home to this venue, everything,” he laments. His friend adds how only 10 fans have been provided for over 100 stalls and that too in this hot weather. According to most of them, the reason for the lack in sales is due to lack of publicity.
Which is a pity. Especially since their wares are exciting, and distinctly unique. At the very first stall placed at the entrance, you are struck by the Chanderi silks on display. Upon a little coaxing, Salman Khan fishes out some his more priced possessions. A beautiful Chanderi of the finest silk, with intricate designs of red and gold greets you. Apparently, it was his mother, Fehmida Khan, who had painstakingly woven this masterpiece.
A little further down and you are surprised to find Ayurvedic bath scrubbers, made with natural fibres! It's from Nagercoil. The leather wallets, bags and other goods in the Delhi stall are splendid too, as are the woollen and cotton rugs from Mirzapur. You learn that these have been given a stone-wash antique finish.
Pottery
Pottery from Puducherry, Banaras silks from Uttar Pradesh, fine jewellery from Haryana, and Khadi cottons from Patiala. And this is not all. You discover wares made from sea-shells at the Kanyakumari stall, and fantastic jute jholas and shoes from Kolkata. There's self-designed jewellery inspired from Batwa tribals, by a merchant from Mangalore, along with Tanjore art from Tamil Nadu.
Puppets
You also enjoy colourful puppets from Gujarat, along with fine jewellery made with gun-metal, jade, and wastage from real coral, at the stall from our own city. You meet with a national award winner from Tirupur, whose family is involved in the making of leather goods like shoes and bags. Everything is hand-made, including the intricate designs. Benjamin Balu explains how his family has been leading an impoverished life for a long time. And yet, when he speaks, you can feel passion for his craft.
As is the case with Remant Kumar Mishra, a soft-spoken man from Bihar. With graceful detail, he narrates the various themes of his Madhubani paintings. You are struck by some of them, like the tale etched of their Goddess Durga, or of fairies who visit the earth on a moon-lit night.
The artists are chiefly women from his village, and have been involved in this craft for generations. You buy one of these paintings, and leave with one thought. The real losers are not these craftspeople, no matter how scarce their sales have been. It is the people who have been unable to enjoy the pleasure of their wares.
The Gandhi Shilp Bazaar is on till March 3, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at VOC Park Ground.
01 March, 2010 by admin