Dhokara Craftsmen

family : producer groups producers - dhokara \| aari \| kantha \| hand printing \| embossed leather \| stuffed toy hangings \| jute slippers
	... dhokara craftsmen have been making jewelry, figurines and kitchenware for tribals since time immemorial... The few metal objects found in Mohenjadaro and Harappa have a very strong resemblance to the dhokara figures and objects created by craftsmen today. In India, these craftsmen are concentrated in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal.
Originally, these craftsmen were nomads who went from tribe to tribe making their ceremonial and religious figures, ornaments and kitchenware. The tribals were their main customers and they also displayed their goods at the village 'haats' or fairs. They were restricted to the materials of their immediate physical surroundings and the process of dhokara also matched their nomadic biorhythm. It does not require any fixed place or structure, or any heavy, large tools. They used wax, resin and firewood from the forests, clay from the river bed and made the firing oven in a hole dug in the ground. Today, these craftsmen have reached a wider market, thanks to the efforts of various urban based marketing organizations. This has lead to a degree of financial prosperity, and has changed their way of living. They are no longer nomadic, but have settled into small colonies. They no longer work entirely on their own, but have received many inputs from designers and buyers from outside. They have had to conform to their buyers expectations of uniform quality, making several pieces of the same design and constraints of deadlines. To keep hold of their cultural identity that is the crux of their products, in the face of more mundane considerations is the biggest problem they face today and it is a problem shared by most traditional craftsmen. Dhokara is still a family craft. Several families live in modules and work together, sharing all their facilities and resources. The craft process is entwined completely with the daily routine - fire is used for each stage of the process and the same fire is used for cooking. Children are involved with the craft from an early age. Contrary to the common belief that dhokara is a primitive and hence a low-tech craft; it is a highly technical craft and requires a lot of experience and a high level of skill. Perfecting this craft is the work of a lifetime under close guidance from senior members of the family at the learning stage. To read more about the fascinating technique of Dhokara, please click here.
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sasha - for contemporary living

concept & visualization : jogi panghaal | design & authoring : naga nandini / walrusindia