Crafts of Baster-Chhatisgarh: handicrafts of India

Handicrafts of Baster-Chhattisgarh

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Indian handicrafts sector has grown steadily in the recent decades. Nearly 65 lacks crafts persons are directly involved in the various segments of handicrafts, 80% of who live in the rural area and mostly they are tribal.

Crafts are an integral part of life in India, despite the rapid social and technological changes that are taking a vital part and we need to capitalize on our inherent strengths and focus on making our handicrafts Industry globally so that it can be a high potential for export and foreign exchange earnings for the country as well as the poor, ill-fated craftsmen.

The Baster district of Chhattisgarh is world famous for its unique tribal traditions and culture. The tribal king Pravir Chandra Bhanjdev, who ruled Baster for decades contributed a great deal for promoting the art and culture of the place.

Gradually that trends has been improved by various craftsmen, NGO’s, entrepreneurs’, social welfare organizations and finally by the Government.

Basically the Gond, Muria, Bhatra, Dhurwa, Dorla and Parja tribal traditionally offer pottery, iron, dhokra, wood curving, and natural fibers etc to the basic needs of their tribes which were primitive in nature and associated with tribal life. But now a day that trends has been changed and improved by those agencies and continuous process of development and training.

I am with Silpa-Guru Dr. Jaidev Baghel,

Dr. Jaidev Baghel, sculpture Silpaguru on Dokhra crafts, Founder Chairman of Paramparik Baster Shilpi Parivar, Board member of DC (H), State Award-1976,Master Craftsman National Award-1977,All India Art Exhibition special Award-1979, Gold Flakes Award-1980, Sikhhar Samman Award-1982, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Nation Award-1991, Kamal Devi Chattopadhya national Award-2000, Shilpa Guru Samman National Award-2002, D. Lit. Ravi Shankar Sukla University-2003.

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