Many
people have a misconception about handicraft products in their
minds. They consider these artifacts to be the reflection of
underdeveloped societies where people have ample time but no ways or
means to use it productively. As a result, these primitive people
come out with vague things to fulfill their daily needs and to make
money, the intermediary try to promote them.
The
reality is just the opposite. Humans are unique among all the living
beings because of their creativity. However, this quality is inborn
and cannot be learnt or taught. One may become a millionaire and buy
all the luxuries in this world but cannot become creative. Money is
the indicator of richness but there is no way to compare creativity.
Who can tell whether Picasso was better than Husain or Mozart was not
as good as Beethoven? In other words, creativity cannot be measured.
Each art is a masterpiece provided you have the eyes to judge.
One
cannot create something new by sitting in office. You need to be in
complete peace, free from all worries and distractions to get new
ideas. You can get such atmosphere, only when you stay close to
nature. That is the reason why we are losing our heritage. Each
civilization has been blessed with pool of brains and their
cumulative result has been passing from one generation to another in
the form of art and craft. The artisans are the people who save our
culture. Their job is not something, which can be completed in a day
or two. It is a continuous process of giving shape to imagination.
The
handicraft products, we see today, are the outcome of years of
hard work, patience, endurance and imagination. In order to
understand them, one has to start from the beginning. For example, if
you look at pottery closely, you will find every saucer is different
because the hands that give it shape are tuned in that way. On the
other side a machine made utensil is just a carbon copy of its mould. It
is not easy to bring the best handicraft from remote areas of India.
There are tribes that live in forests and bringing their tradition to
the outer world needs exceptional courage and determination.
The
range of handicraft products is so wide that it is nearly
impossible to display all items at a single shop. Thanks to internet,
now you can see their whole range sitting at your home. Although, no
amount of money can be enough to compensate the creator of a
masterpiece, still a reasonable price is essential to build mutual
understanding between the artisans and art lovers. Also proper
packing and shipment is essential to ensure safe delivery of
handicraft products to their buyers.
About the Writer: Ranjani Ragotham was born on the sixth day of the sixth month, nineteen years ago. When she is not caught between the pages of a book, she either writes poetry or day-dreams. Presently, she is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Language at Madras Christian College in Chennai.
About the Writer: Ranjani Ragotham was born on the sixth day of the sixth month, nineteen years ago. When she is not caught between the pages of a book, she either writes poetry or day-dreams. Presently, she is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Language at Madras Christian College in Chennai.
