A Botoking
March 23
DIMAPUR (MExN): With the ‘Workshop on product/design development of cane and bamboo handicrafts product’ being carried out in the Town Hall Dimapur, a lot of ideas are being inculcated by the Naga craftsmen through this medium. Though this occupation is still dominated by the use of hand tools specifically, efforts are being made to improve both the quality and quantity of the products. There are over 97 hand tools in use in the world at present. The Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Mumbai aims to collate the different tools available and adopt them for use in the Indian context. With the ‘new generation of craft products’, there has been a great need for better tools to introduce the concepts of measurement, gauges, jigs and fixtures. Thus, a toolkit and slivering machine to evenly split the bamboo strips has been invented by Prof.Rao of IIT Mumbai to improve both the quality and quantity of the products.
With this aim, Micro Common Facility Centres (MCFC) were set up by the IDC, IIT Mumbai under the UNDP project in three North East states, Nagaland being one of them. The MCFC in Nagaland is located in Deizephe which is catering to the needs of 15 craftsmen/artisans. It contains two sets of 4 hand operated machines and 2 toolkits. A smoke chamber, jigs and fixtures will be added soon. In order to help market their products, a Self Help Group has been formed which will be assisted by the Development Commissioner (Small Scale Industries).
Speaking to Prof. Rao, it was learnt that the main idea behind the workshop is to enable the craftsmen/artisans to learn new methods in cane and bamboo products as well as dyeing with organic dyes such as tea leaves, haldi and pan katha, and curing the bamboo in order to prevent their decay. He mentioned that new designs and ideas of cane/bamboo products are being taught and encouraged as the products can be sold only when they are both aesthetically attractive and practically useful. Interestingly, the finished products being showcased in the Town Hall bear witness to the fact that the innovative ideas are indeed working.
The Industrial Design Centre of IIT Mumbai believes in an integral approach to craft, encompassing design, technology, training and marketing, and has been actively involved in working on bamboo craft for more than a decade.
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