Intro: When the faulty economic model of the west which is infested with monstrous greed, triggers global warming and threatens the very existence of human civilisation, the eco-friendly paper mache industry is providing a
bright future.
The art of painting on utility and decorative pieces made from waste paper pulp has survived in the narrow lanes and by-lanes of Srinagar. It is believed that the art of paper mache was introduced in Srinagar by Shah-i-Hamdan, a Persian Islamic preacher who fled Persia and settled down in Srinagar along with a group of artisans in the early 14th century AD. The Shah-i-Hamdan’s mosque in Srinagar preserves excellent paper mache work on its inner wall. The main entrance door and the front side wall are decorated with the finest quality paper mache work. The paper mache artisans of Srinagar continue to hone their skill in order to keep the handicraft tradition alive.
Sayed Fidda Hussain, 58, the veteran paper mache artist of Srinagar is fully engrossed in his own world of painting. He looks more like a sufi saint with a meditating pair of eyes. He quietly paints on a paper machie box with a fine brush. It is the pleasure of painting that let him wade through difficult time. Societal behaviour change shifts people’s attention from art objects to consumer items. Cheap plastic items have replaced fine bio degradable handcrafted utility items. “The new generation is no longer interested in paper mache work,” said Sayed Fidda Hussain, “children should learn to appreciate art objects from school.” The market is flooded with cheaper quality paper mache work and the general public can hardly discern quality paper mache items from poor quality stuff. There are hardly 20 very skilled artisans who make quality paper mache work in Srinagar. “Government should market all types of products and grade those items according to the quality so that all artisans could get employment,” said Sayed Fidda Hussain. Besides, Government should ensure that senior artisans get their due share of profit from the craft sale. If artisans don’t get social recognition and a steady income, they will switch over to other professions. The new generation is no longer interested in this profession. Many artisans have already changed their professions. It happens not only in Kashmir but in many other Indian states. Gone are the days when Kings and nobles of Kashmir publicly honoured senior artisans for their contribution. Like every artist, the paper mache artisans also need social recognition to be at their creative best.
The process of making eco-friendly paper mache utility and decorative pieces is not much complicated. The artisan first soaks waste paper with water to make pulp by mixing gums. Then the paper pulp is molded into different shapes like wall hangings, different size boxes, cards, table mats, masks, animals, birds, flower vases, saucers, plates, bowls, pen stand, sword covers, mobile stand and ash tray etc. The artisans give a white color coating on the object before painting on it. On the white base the artisan draws different floral motifs, creepers, petals, leaves, geometric shapes, signs, symbols, flora and fauna etc. After the drawing is made the artisan uses different types of brushes to paint his subjects. Once the painting is made, a lacquer coating is given for strength and durability. Senior artisans can attempt fine delicate lines to instill life into the subjects. The tree looks real and the petals carry the dew drops. Everything looks very fresh in the paintings. Paper mache artisans add high value to simple paper pulp with their skill and imagination. The artisans develop the skill after long years of dedicated work. Senior artisans bring out even different shades of rose petals in his paintings. One can clearly see the different shades of petals with a magnifying glass. “Once every household in Srinagar had paper mache artist,” remembers Fidda Hussain. The question is whether the paper mache tradition will survive after the present generation retires. Kashmir has already witnessed the exit of handmade rice paper, Chinese craft, sheshakari work and crystal work. Senior artisans should be involved for preparing development plan for the artisan community. Artisans can only suggest practical solution for their problems. Any attempt to treat the problems with subsidy and relief packages aggravate artisans’ problems as all kinds of subsidy schemes and financial packages activate the corrupt people in the system in the absence of dedicated audit and monitoring. Besides, free money kills entrepreneurship. The State should give free education to artisans’ children, provide travel concession, free health facility, direct marketing access and provide raw material at a reasonable cost. National and State awardees should be given monthly remuneration to train young artisans. This is high time to revamp the supply chain and weed out middlemen from the handicraft trade. When the faulty economic model of the west which is infested with monstrous greed, triggers global warming and threatens the very existence of human civilisation, the eco-friendly paper mache products always have a bright future.
Sudhansu R Das (The writer is a freelance journalist from Hyderabad, recently visited J&K to study Art and Culture)
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