Souriyocompusoft: A STUDY ON VARIOUS HANDICRAFTS IN TRIPURA-PART-2 (TOURISM)_INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER – I

INTRODUCTION

Handicrafts are mostly defined as "Items made by hand, often with the use of simple tools, and are generally artistic and/or traditional in nature. They are also objects of utility and objects of decoration.” Handicrafts can be broadly classified in three categories.

· Consumer goods: Artisan prepare such utilitarian goods for self consumption or for exchange such baskets for keeping domestic articles, smoking pipes, footwear, hunting arrows, combs, storing, wooden and stone plates for use ,textile items like Ria, Shwal, coats, jackets.

· Processing industries such as minor forest products for self consumption and for exchange at weekly hut on barter age system or sell them for money to purchase other items for self consumption

· Decorative items include jewellery, and ornaments, earrings, anlkle bells, necklaces, head gears, head dresses, In addition other decorative items such as wall paintings, deities either wood or stone, artifacets. These handicrafts for decoration are for self use or sell /exchange them in the weekly market for money.

The tribal economy is equally distinctive since it is closed and undifferentiated characterized by adoption of primitive technology in economic pursuits. The tribal people earn in their livelihood by undertaking many occupations such as forestry and food gathering, shifting cultivation, settled agriculture, and industrial labour, animal husbandry, fishing, traditional commerce of which household industry including handicrafts is of prime importance Tribal have been producing different handicrafts both utilitarian and decorative over centuries.

Tribal economy in the earlier days was a barter system through mutual help. Lending, if any, between different members of the community is also governed by customs and interest has not been applied. Thus self sufficient economy of the tribal does not have substantial surpluses to warrant establishment of regular markets nor knew their potentialities for their handicrafts. Slowly market economies began to appear around religious festivals and demands for new items started increasing. This leads to weekly markets. Traders or middle men came on the scene and slowly these tribal artisans who display their skill, acquired through tradition, used to sell their products to these traders or middleman, unfortunately these artisans are being exploited and are paid paltry amounts. Even this system is getting eroded due to poor marketing facilities and is unable to with stand competition from manufacturing industries.

In order to provide and protect the artisans skills inherited, govt. both at the centre and states have set up Handicrafts emporium at important cities and at district level. These artisans are also encouraged by various government institutions to participate in national and International exhibition to show their skills.

Though tribal economy is mostly depending upon farming, these tribals over generations inherited their traditional art. This art is still continuing despite all odds faced by these tribal households. This chapter mainly brings out with various types of handicrafts made by these tribals in different states and in different districts and problems faced by these households. Craftsmen produce a variety of utilitarian items using natural material like cane and bamboo. Not only these materials, readily available, they are also easy to work with and hardly require the use of specialized tools or equipment.

In Arunachal Pradesh, main handicrafts items are made up of bamboo as a raw material. Artisans in Banswara district of Rajasthan, Chamoli district of Uttaranchal were prominent in the production of handicrafts made out of bamboo. Cane and bamboo products, not only adorn tribal houses, but they decorate the modern household as well. Cane furniture, bamboo mats, screens, tablemats etc are extremely popular. A number of cane and bamboo products are exported from India. Wood carvings are important handicraft of Chattisgarh and Uttaranchal state due to availability of wood as raw material from nearby forest areas. Bell metal handicrafts is prominent in Chattisgarh state. Stone carvings in the form of deities, flower vases, agarbatti stands, bowls, were famous among tribal districts of Rajasthan state. This was partly due to availability of raw material surrounding their villages. Terracota items like horses, elephants, flower vases, are traditional handicrafts moulded by tribals in the districts of Chattisgarh state with local river soil(mud). Woolen shawls, scarfs are prominent among tribals of Uttaranchal due to availability of raw material.

Handicrafts are unique expressions of a particular culture or community through local craftsmanship and materials. It is no longer possible to look at traditional artisan communities and their products in isolation from global market trends and competition. 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. In many cases, artisans are out of touch with those end markets, which presents a challenge to those seeking to export their products. The response of consumers to handicrafts is unpredictable. Handicraft production is a major form of employment in many developing countries and often a significant part of the export economy. With increased globalization, however, products are becoming more and more commoditized, with artisan producers facing increased competition from producers all over the world, particularly in China and other Asian countries. The All India Handicrafts Board assisted the state governments in setting up their Design and Technical centers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Gujarat, Orissa, Manipur, Tripura, Haryana, West Bengal and Goa. In these centers, craftsmen and the artists jointly work out new designs and items in selected crafts. These artists strive to combine the traditional with modern. The handicraft items are carefully made by artesian so that they retain the ethnic value, while they can be put to modern day use. The designers have to keep in mind the changing needs of the consumers, especially the foreign markets.

ECONOMICS OF HANDICRAFT

Production of handicrafts in different areas by tribal is linked with the availability of raw material locally or in the district. In Arunachal and Uttranchal state, wool is an important raw material and Bamboo is an important raw material for tribal artisans in the districts of Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh. Brass, copper and iron for manufacturing bell metal handicrafts are important in the districts of Chhattisgarh.The tribal artisans purchase metal scrape from local market. Whereas stone as raw material is easily available in the tribal districts of Rajasthan. The study showed two kinds of difficulties in respect of procurement of raw materials, first reasonable price and second diversification of raw material for commercial consumption.

Mainly in tribal areas raw material is available in forest or difficult geographical terrains. Tribal have to put extra labours for procurement of these raw material or buying it from the local vendors. It has been observed that majority of the raw materials for preparing different type of handicrafts are available in the producing districts.

It has been reported that the craftsman’s production is seasonal and irregular, that is between sowing and weeding between reaping and sowing and so on. He cannot have steady market. So production has to be made more even and regular. This can he achieved through better labour saving techniques. This would enable to devote certain hours of the day even during the thick of agricultural production. The prime need of handicrafts is a reorientation in the techniques of production without interference with the artistic varieties of production. Further statism in designing is a serious draw back of handicrafts. The bulk of the craftsmen either side bound in sentimental traditionalism or ignorant of the changes in demand stick to the century old designs.

After examining the tribal population problems in raw material procurement, another problem which was highlighted by the tribal and NGO’s representatives is marketing problems. The tribal artisans, not only meet their domestic requirements, but also market their products either at home or at village hatt or to business men. Despite best efforts to survive on their own these tribal households need market support for the survival of their traditional handicrafts. The survey teams obtained the views of the households about the types of support needed for the survival of their arts. Lack of transport facilities stand in the way of selling the handicrafts by the craftsmen themselves. As a result middlemen, traders dominate the market. According to S. Non-geri, in his article, Problem of marketing of handicrafts products in Meghalaya estimated that 64% of the produces of the rural artisan is captured by these middlemen and are at their mercy. Due to poor transportation services in tribal areas, majority of tribal prefer to sell their product to the middle men who generally picks up handicraft items from individual households and sell these items at district or state level shops.

Due to subsistence economy, most of the tribal work as daily wager or indulge into small scale handicraft activities or farming in the small piece of land or collect forest product from nearby areas. In majority of cases, handicraft is considered as part time occupation or tertiary activity in economic ladder. The revenue generated from handicraft has substantial share of total household income. During the survey, it has been observed that it constitute more than 30% of total household income.

Importance of Handicrafts:

Handicraft sector occupies a prime position in the Indian economy. It is the largest employer, next to agriculture. The sector, while providing livelihood for thousands of artisans, provides avenues for realization of social and cultural potential of millions of people. The mythological, religious, social, historical and artistic expressions in crafts symbolize the strengths of Indian heritage while combining in these crafts both utility and beauty.

High employment potential, low per capita investment and high value addition, involvement of women and weaker section, eco friendliness and the potential to stimulate creative talents make the sector one of the most preferred sectors in the process of economic development.

India which consists of a variety of ethnic traditions and culture is also a treasure house of Indian handicrafts. Exquisite handicrafts using diverse raw materials are produced in different parts of the country. This include art metal ware, wood ware, hand printed textiles and scarves, leather crafts, hand knotted carpets and embroidered goods, wood design, shawls as art ware, stone carvings, imitation jewellery and miscellaneous other handicrafts.

One of the unique feature of the handicrafts is that more often the same item of the handicraft, produced in different regions, are different from each other in terms of the craftsmanship, style, color combination and finish by artesian creativity.

1.1. About Tripura.

1.1.1. Introduction.

The name ‘Tripura’ is probably derived from the name of the goddess Tripureswari of West Bengal or of the ruling Maharaja of Tripura. It may also be a modification of ‘Tipra’ (‘Tuipara’) of the native inhabitants of the state. ‘Tipra’ means the dwellers of the territory bordered by the sea while the word ‘Tui’ means water. Tripura attained full statehood from Union Territory status on 21 January 1972. It is one of the eight North-eastern states, and is the second smallest State of India. It was a former princely state and was ruled by the Maharajas of the Manikya dynasty. It was an independent administrative unit under the Maharaja even during the British rule in India, and attained its Union Territory status on November 1, 1956.

1.1.2. Geography:

Tripura has a geographical area of about 10,492 sq. km. Almost two-thirds of the state is under hilly terrain and it is surrounded on three sides by the deltaic basin of Bangladesh. Geographically it lies between 22° 57’ and 24° 32’ N and 91° 10’ and 92° 20’ E with the Tropic of Cancer passing through it. The State is situated in the South-western extremity of the Northeast region of India. It shares a border of 1001 km perimeter with Bangladesh, Assam and Mizoram. The international border with Bangladesh is 856 km, most of which is completely open and porous.

The hills of Tripura run from north to south in parallel till they disappear into the plains of Sylhet in Bangladesh. From the east the principal hill ranges are the Jampui, Sakhan Tlang, Langtarai, Athara Mura and Bara Mura. The highest peak of the state is Betalang Shiv (992 M.) in the Jampui hill range. The hills form a watershed from which the drainage pours down west into the Meghna (in Bangladesh) by the rivers Khowai, Manu, Dolai, Haorah, Langai and Gomati, and southeast into the Bay of Bengal by the rivers Fenny and Muhuri. Topographically, the state is characterised by hill slopes, tillas (hillocks), lungas (land areas between the tillas), flat lands, rivers and lakes.

The State has eight districts with twenty three Sub-Divisions. The eight districts are 1) West Tripura District with Agartala as its head quarters, 2) Khowai District, Tripura with Teliamura as its head quarters, 3) Dhalai with Ambassa as its head quarters and 4) Unakoti District, Tripura with Kumarghat as its head quarters. 5) North Tripura District with Kailashahar as its head quarters. 6) Sepahijala District, Tripura with Bishramganj as its head quarters. 7) Gomati District, Tripura with Udaipur as its head quarters and 8) South Tripura District with Belonia as its head quarters. The State capital is at Agartala.

The climate of the State is generally hot and humid. The average maximum temperature is 35° C in May-June and the average minimum is 10.5° C in December-January. The average annual rainfall is approximately 2300 mm. The monsoon begins in April and continues till September.

The Khowai, Manu, Haorah, Muhuri and the Gomati are some important rivers of Tripura. The Gomati is the largest river, receives a number of south-flowing streams, and cuts across the ranges from east to west before emerging out of the hills at Radhakishorepur. The Gomati is supposed to originate at Tirthamukh near Dumboor falls (now lost in the lake due to the dam). It is the most sacred of all the rivers in the State. The riverbeds are usually sandy in the hills and clayey in the plains. There are no artificial canal systems in the State. In the low-lying areas there are numerous swamps and marshes. Inland water traffic is conspicuous by its absence. Tripura is a land-locked State with no access to coastal waters.

On the north-western and southern boundaries of Tripura lies a narrow strip of low land that is very fertile. Along the western border, some areas to the north and south of the headquarter towns may be described as broken ground consisting of hillocks alternating with swamps. In between the hill ranges, the northern portion of the valleys for the most part is flat, swampy and covered with vegetation while to the south; the valleys are crossed with innumerable ravines and low intricate ridges.

1.1.3. People and Culture.

There are nineteen scheduled tribes in Tripura. These are: Lushali, Mogh Kuki, Chakma, Garo, Chaimal, Halam, Khasia, Bhutia, Kunda (including Kaur), Orang, Lepcha, Santhal, Bhil, Tripura, Jamatia, Noatia, Reang and Uchai. Besides this there are many refugees from Bangladesh.

The Tripuras are divided into two groups: Puran Tripuras and Natun Tripuras. The Puran Tripura are the original inhabitants of the State and constitute a little over 16% of the total and 57% of the tribal population of the State. The former rulers of Tripura were from the Puran Tripura community and were known as Thakurs. The Natun Tripuras came into existence later as a result of marital contacts between the Puran Tripuras and people from West Bengal. The Thakurs were generally well educated, with public officials, writers, musicians, engineers and doctors found among them. However, the rest of the community live on hill slopes, practice jhoom cultivation, collect produce from the forest and sell vegetables and bamboos. Their houses are made of bamboo, are built one to two meters above the ground to avoid wild animals. This community is now settling on the plain areas of the State and is adopting stable cultivation partly because of government efforts and partly because of contacts with settlers from West Bengal. The language of this community is Tripuri, which is written, in the Bengali script. Most Tripuris are Hindus and their religious rites and rituals are similar to that of Hindu culture.

The Reangs are the next most important tribal group. They are believed to have migrated into Tripura from somewhere in the Chittagong Hill tracts in the middle of the 15th century. It is believed that the Reangs were formerly palki-bearers of the Tripura rajas. They constitute about 14% of the tribal population and 4% of the total population of the State. They are divided into two broad groups: Meshka or Mechka and Marchai or Malchai. These groups are further sub-divided. The Reangs constitute a disciplined community. They have their own form of internal government based on a well-defined hierarchy. The head of the community is called Rai. The Reangs look up to this ‘monarch’ whose word is supreme and must be obeyed. Succession is not hereditary and is determined by the qualities of leadership. As one of the strongest pillars of the State’s military regime during the royal regime, the Reangs had a reputation for their martial quality. The Tripura rulers could obtain the support and services of the Reang community by maintaining contact with these chieftains who had complete authority over them. The Reangs are also Hindus, and believers in the Sakta cult, although in recent years, some are turning to Vaishavism. They also have animist beliefs, such as that all plants, animals, rivers and mountains are endowed with a living spirit.

The Jamatias constitute another community. During the royal regime, they constituted a section of the fighting forces of the rulers. The term has apparently originated from ‘jamayet’, which means gathering or mobilisation. Excepting perhaps in the northeastern parts of the State, the Jamatia are found in all other parts. About 44,500 persons were recorded as Jamatias in the 1981 census. Their worships incorporate both animistic as well as Hindu rituals. Since they have many systems in common with the settlers from West Bengal, they are also settling down in the plains, building houses like the plains people and taking to plough cultivation in preference to jhoom.

The Chakmas are the fourth largest tribal group. They have migrated from the Chittagong Hill Tracts into Tripura in 1872. They are mostly Buddhist, however in their religious practices one finds a blending of Buddhism, Vaishnavism and even Islam. The Chakma chiefs are called Dewans and exercise great authority and influence within the community. The Chakmas depend mostly on jhooming although in recent years some of them have taken to settled cultivation.

The Halams are a section of Kukis who submitted to the Tripura king. They are believed to have migrated into Tripura from a village called Khorpintabhim in the northwest of Manipur. However they now follow the Tripuris in social manners and customs, and also in language. The Halams are also followers of the Sakta cult; however there is also pronounced Vaishnavism in certain sections. They also have animistic beliefs. They believe in the existence of spirits with supernatural powers. The Ker and Bara Puja are two important festivals of this community.

The Ker is an annual festival while the Bara Puja is held once in four or five years in a collective way when the Halams of different areas assemble together. The Halams were known for their ferocity and for their innate sense of devotion. They regarded the king as a living God and surrendered to him with a profound sense of dedication.

1.1.4. Natural Environment and Ecology.

The greater part of Tripura was earlier covered with forests. Today the situation is different owing the fragmentation of forests by jhoom cultivations. Dense forest today exists only on the hill ranges in some areas. The forests in the State are mainly tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous types. Sizable area is covered with bamboo brakes, which virtually form a sub-climax type resulting from shifting cultivation from time immemorial. According to the Champion and Seth (1968) classification, the forests of Tripura are of the following types - East Himalayan Lower Bhabar Sal, Cachar Tropical Evergreen Forests, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests, Low Alluvial Savannah Woodland, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests with Dry Bamboo Brakes and Secondary Moist Bamboo Brakes. Plantations of teak (Tectona grandis), Sal (Shorea robusta), Gamar (Gmelina arborea) and Chamal (Artocarpus) are also present. The bamboo species diversity is very high with over 19 species of bamboo being present.

Tripura is situated in the Indian sub-region of the Oriental Zoo-geographic region, and therefore its local flora and fauna bear close affinities with floraand faunal components of the Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese sub-regions. There are many species of rare, endemic and endangered plants and animals the region. Many important animals such as the clouded leopard, gibbon Phayre’s leaf monkey, stump-tailed macaque, elephants and tigers are found in the State.

There are presently four protected areas in the State. These are: (a) Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary (18.54 sq. km), (b) Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary (389.54 sq. km), (c) Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary (194.71 sq. km) and (d) Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary (0.86 sq. km). Thus only a mere 603.65 sq. km. is under State protection. The state government has identified interesting natural features for general awareness about the state’s natural treasure: (i) State animal: Spectacled Monkey. (ii) State Bird : Imperial Pigeon. (iii) State Flower: Mesua ferrea (Nageswar, Nagkesar).

1.1.5. Socio-Economics.

Agriculture is the mainstay of Tripura’s economy, and is one of the mainsources of revenue. According to the 1981 census, 67.29 % of the working population of the State was engaged in agriculture. The agricultural sector, including animal husbandry, contributed to 56.4% of the State’s income in 1991-92. In the 2011 census, the number of cultivators constituted 41%, thenumber of agricultural labourers constituted 25%, the number of household industry/manufacturing processing, servicing and repairing workers constituted only 5%. Therefore agriculture is still the predominant activity. The number of Registered Factories in 2013-2014 was only 1,659. Rice is the major crop in the State. In the highlands, a variety of rice and a fibre crop, locally known as mesta, are produced. A fine variety of rice, jute and vegetables are grown in the low-lying areas and the plains. Another major activity is that of rubber plantations. The Rubber Board has provided wide ranging assistance to private as well as corporate sectors for the development of rubber plantations in the State. In 2014-2015, the tapping area for rubber was 10,478 hectares. The production of rubber in this period was 8,346 metric tons, and the value of rubber production was 16.49 crores. A significant achievement was the launching of wheat cultivation. Other crops are sugarcane, cotton, potato, orange, pineappleand coconut. The production of pineapple is high (approx 1,20,000 metric tones per annum) and the variety is also extremely good.

A major hurdle to the development of agriculture on a large scale in the State is the lack of irrigation. Another important deficiency is the lack of availability of seed. Initially, seed was difficult to procure from outside the State owing to the high transport costs. However, now large-sized seed multiplication firms have been set up, along with seed banks. The seed bank scheme works in the following way: The growers are asked to feed back the government with a part of their production for use as seeds in the subsequent season in return for the incentives given to them. Under this scheme more than 1,15,000 kg of seeds have been distributed as loans to the tribals and the weaker sections of cultivators. Another issue with regard to development agriculture is the small size of the agricultural holdings. Industries began to appear in Tripura only after 1950. The isolated geographand the lack of power and communication facilities have been major factors contributing to the lack of development of agriculture in the State. As mentioned earlier, the number of workers engaged in industry is only 5%. Although transport and geographical isolation has stood in the way of development of large and medium industries, the State has achieved a unique distinction in cane and bamboo handicrafts. Weaving is also the oldest and most developed cottage industry in the State, which is practiced by tribals, as well as the Manipuris settled within the State.

1.1.6. Evolution.

Tripura has a mixed population of tribals and non-tribals. However, what is unique in Tripura is that here one finds elements of culture of different sets of people each unique in its own way mingled together, and in the process, a composite culture is embracing the different strands of faith. The initial contributors to this composite culture are the early inhabitants of the land whose origin may be traced to Indo-Mongoloid blood and the people of the surrounding areas – the Bengalis. Next came the Muslims, the Manipuris and the Buddhists. Although the Muslims came as conquerors or invaders, that they have left a distinct mark of their culture on the soil of Tripura can be seen from the architectural style of the temples in Tripura. In fact, the style clearly bears testimony to Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim influences. The matrimonial alliances that were established in the last century between the royal families of Assam, Bengal, Manipur and Tripura grew in course of time into a firmer bond of friendship and fellowship. This has helped in widening the cultural base in Tripura. This seems to have contributed towards a spirit of tolerance. People of Tripura had faced a lot of socio-economical and cultural problems resulting into a few conflicts, first around the partition and the independence of India and then again around the liberation of Bangladesh. During the partition at the time of the independence, a large area of the erstwhile Maharaja’s estate went to then East Pakistan. This resulted in a large-scale migration of Bengali Hindus from that region to the small state of Tripura.

With the partition, Tripura not only lost its very fertile land but also lost its communication system. It became a land locked region with only one road approach from Assam. The state is suffering on the economical front due to these reasons. It also has to face insurgency problems resulting of this complex issue. The state progressed on the educational front very fast. From 1931 to 2001 the state’s literacy rate increased from 3.4 % to 73.7 %. Economical development lagged much behind and this resulted in the problem of educated unemployed. Even today, the state of Tripura is still in a socio-political turmoil. Considering the isolated region and the infrastructure problems, the general is likely to be slow and the people of the state have to evolve different socio-economic strategies for their own sustenance.

1.2. Discuss about various handicraft in Tripura:

1.2.1. Cane & Bamboo Handicrafts:

Cane and Bamboo craft are the main crafts of Tripura. Ethnic groups in Tripura make wide variety of handicraft products using bamboo and cane. The bamboo and cane crafts of Tripura are famous for the rare artistic skill of elegant baskets, small-framed mirrors, hair clips, powder cases, decorative trays and decorations are made. 'Dulla' is a commonly used fish basket while 'Pathee' is a rain shield. Small woven animals, 'moorahs' which is a low stool made of bamboo and split cane, cane ornaments, mats, bags, fruit-baskets, basketry, vases and many other items are made from bamboo and cane in Tripura. The designs are intricate and exquisite that catches the fancy.

The State Government has set up The Craft Teacher's Institute (CTTI) which has done commendable work in this field of bamboo and cane crafts of Tripura. The State Department of Industries runs a Design Extension Centre at Agartala and the All India Handicrafts Board had established a Bamboo and Cane Development Institute, which has taken up research in the chemical treatment of bamboo. The institute also provides an advanced course of training in bamboo work, seasoning, preservation and craft design. A private registered society and several other units have taken up the production of popular handicraft items in the capital of Tripura with the specialisation in bamboo screens, lamp stands and table-mats. Bamboo and cane craft of Tripura includes creating structures of houses, granaries, shops, workspaces or even large warehouses.

The bamboo and cane craft of Tripura is famous for creating bamboo screens made from split bamboo. They are so finely woven and delicately appliquéd with coloured bamboo chips that they look almost like ivory. Bamboo matting is a booming industry in Tripura. An array of products such as fans, lampshades, handbags and various decorative items are made from converting bamboo matting. The simplest item that is made out of bamboo mat is a wall-hanging with a picture painted on it in oil colours. Bamboo splints stiffen the ends of the hanging. Another decorative product made from waste strips of matting are flower sticks. Bamboo table-mats are other most popular products. Some sets of mats have decorative oil paintings that are executed by the local artists.

Bamboo and cane craft of Tripura include tea cozy and tray. Other items such as semi-circular and circular fans, beautifully designed lampshades, handbags of various shapes and sizes etc are also made from bamboo matting. These generally have stiff sides with rigid construction. In addition to products made from woven bamboo mats, several other products are made in Tripura which include turned bamboo vases and lamp stands, carved and shaped containers such as mugs and pencil holders as well as a host other novelty fabricated from shaped bamboo splints.

Bamboo and cane craft of Tripura puts emphasis on fabricating decorative products meant for sale in upcountry markets through various handicrafts emporia. The exclusive craft has developed and flourished by achieving governmental support and education provided to the artisans on the pros and cons about the bamboo and cane craft and hence increased its demand in the entire market scenario.

From time immemorial Tripura has carved out a name for itself in the field of Handicrafts. The Gifted artisans produce wonderful objects of crafts from simple material like cane, bamboo & wood. There rare artistic skill has not been streamlined in the manufacture of exquisite household pieces. Tripura's unique topography and the gracious nature bestowed their choicest blessings on the hereditary artisans of Tripura. Here three distinct cultures viz. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam have converged together to give shape and content to a unique tradition that found eloquent expression through immemorable work of art & crafts made out of very simple materials like cane, bamboo, clay, wood, palm leaf etc. With the passage of time, there has been changes in the demographic character of the state. But in each phase of her history, Tripura has shown remarkable inner strength of assimilation of synthesis, while retaining her own traditional heritage. With the original distinct tribal motifs were added the skills of Manipuri and Bengali artisans who came subsequently to settle in this land. Time has changed and so also the quick adaptability of our gifted artisans who never failed to respond to the demands of contemporary tastes.

Cane & Bamboo occupy a distinctive place in the life of Tripura. From cradle to grave, there is hardly any occasion, complete without the use of cane & bamboo.

Today the magnificent skill of artisans has been directed to produce of a wide range of more than 200 exquisite products. Presently, about 10,000 skilled artisans are engaged in production of various handicrafts in the state. However, the industry remains largely unorganised. There is a need to organise the industry in order to build up a proper production base capable of responding to the market requirements and to introduce the modern techniques. The state government has already initiated steps in this direction, in view of the vast potential of the industry to grow, both in domestic as well as international markets. The state also welcomes private enterprise in this field.

Cane / Bamboo handicrafts of Tripura are acknowledged to be among the best in the country, due to their beauty, elegance and exquisite designs. A vast range of items are produced, including Furniture, Panels and Partitions, Table Mats & other Mat products, Lamp Shades etc. Tripura handicrafts are also being exported to various countries.

For interior decoration Tripura Handicrafts offer a wide range of false ceilings, paneling, plaques, Pot containers (Planters) etc. made of Gossamer thin bamboo mattress. Ornated with wood inlay and cane & bamboo. The household items have blended utility with artistic beauty. Panels and partitions provide another wide range of utility items made out of solid but thinly splitted bamboo pasted on plywood.

The THHDC undertakes interior decoration works in hotels, conference rooms, show rooms interiors of different Govt. buildings with there beautiful bamboo & cane materials of Tripura on turnkey basis.

Lamp shades made of fine strips of cane & bamboo add distinct touch and glamour to the living room. Exhibiting a rare combination of tradition and talent, there products would brighten up the interiors demonstrating the taste and feeling of the connoisseurs. The supply capacity is much less for the exquisite item.

Furniture of Tripura once exclusive to royal palaces continue to have its excellence and exquisite workmanship. For the elegant Drawing Rooms there are Bamboo-Cane, Sofa sets, Garden Chairs, Dinning Chairs, Baby Chairs, Centre & Side Tables, Morah, Apple Morah etc.

Baskets knitted out of Cane & Bamboo Strips, offer a whole range of products . Exquisite tray Planters, Fruit Baskets of different shapes, sizes, pattern and designs as a rare combination of art and utility. A wide range of baskets and baskets with divisions are being used for making gift packages with some traditional artistic touches by the consumers.

Mat and mat articles, bamboo chatai etc. have good demand in the market. There are different types of roll mats weaved in multi-colored designs which are familiar for making door & window screen, and also have various uses for room decoration.

Amongst the Mat articles ladies bag, Hand fans, Portfolio bag (for seminar) etc. are the most popular items.

On the consoetic table as well, there are quite a number of items to present. Some of those are small framed mirror, Hair Clips, Powder Case, Decorative Trays etc.

Bamboo and cane Ornaments are also very intricate and exquisite in nature. Bamboo and cane ornaments are not available in any other part of the country as well as abroad.

Picture: 1. Different types of Bamboo & Cane Product in Tripura.

1.3.2. Incense stick :

Incense stick, a globally traded product, is burned for fragrance. It is known as ‘Agarbatti’ in India and ‘Dhup-kathi’ locally in Tripura. Incense stick making developed as a cottage industry in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu and spread over thereafter to the neighbouring state of Karnataka, which emerged eventually as the largest production centre of incense sticks in the country. Incense sticks are traditionally used for worship, meditation, prayer, ceremonies and ritual purification. These are also used as air fresheners, mosquito repellent and for creation of ambience and aromatherapy. Bamboo is the base material for incense sticks accounting for one-third of its weight. Forests of Tripura were always rich in bamboo resource. Apart from that, a large majority of rural households have at least one or two bamboo clumps in their backyards. Many individual households amongst tribal communities have a tradition of conserving tracts of uplands with naturally growing bamboo either in their own land or in forestland to meet their domestic needs and also for sale for livelihoods. Tripura is thus known as the 'Home of bamboo'; and bamboo stick making is an age-old tradition for rural artisans, mostly women. There was no comprehensive study till then in Tripura on the status of raw materials for incense stick making.

Tripura used to supply about 90 percent of bamboo sticks utilised by the Indian incense stick industry in the recent past. The situation changed drastically as the stock of Muli bamboo (M. baccifera) accounting for 80 per cent of the bamboo resource of the state declined steeply due to mortality as a result of gregarious flowering (2003- 2009). The Muli bamboo, abundant and cheaply available, was mainly used for incense sticks production in the state, but currently its scarcity has adversely affected the sector. The share of supply from Tripura for the Indian industry came down to 50- 60 per cent in 2008, but was still very significant i.e., 25,000 tonnes or 125 billion sticks.

There was a drastic reduction in import duty on bamboo sticks from 30 to 10 percent in 2011 encouraging imports from China or Vietnam. The imported bamboo sticks on the whole are better with respect to uniformity of dimensions and quality because of large scale mechanization compared to a substantial part of the supply from India which is made manually. In case of Tripura, almost the entire production of bamboo sticks is made manually. Forest transit regulation and checking on this count at numerous Forest Check posts (fallen bamboo being a timber according to the Forest Act) is also considered to be a major problem in terms of ransporting and eventually to the processors/industries. The domestic industry is now importing nearly 70 percent of its bamboo stick needs. Production from Tripura, which caters mainly to the industries outside the state, registered a steep fall (Figure 1). The positive aspect was that the percentage of polished sticks against total production rose steadily from 0.33 in 2006-07 to stabilize at 50 per cent in 2011-12.

According to the Planning Commission of India Assessment, the size of market of the incense stick industry in 2001 was Rs.1800 crores (USD 291.17 million,1 USD = 61.8194 INR) of which the cost of bamboo was 135 crores (Sharma, 2010). India is the largest producer of incense sticks in the world with an estimated annual production of 208 billion sticks, and its market value in 2008 was Rs.41.63 billion (USD 926 million). This amounts to more than 42,000 tonnes of sticks made from nearly 80,000 tonnes of bamboo; and the estimated growth of the sector in value was 20 per cent annually (Rao et al., 2009).