Craft studies 50 M.Des 2022-24 Insights Mirs keep migrating from one place to another being nomadic community. Relief programs are more focused on providing clean drinking water, proper house and not on craft . Artisans make profit only during peak tourist seasons. Lack of education due to cultural norms and prejudices. Mir artisans find it difficult to maintain the jewellery items due to poor living conditions. Craft is hereditary and was initially made only for personal use. Focus is not on the craft. Artisans also buy ready-made jewellery and re-sell them to the tourist. Resources are available to everyone and can be learned, produced and consumed in a variety of contexts. Mirs keep migrating from one place to another being nomadic community. Relief programs are more focused on providing clean drinking water, proper house and not on craft . Artisans make profit only during peak tourist seasons. Lack of education due to cultural norms and prejudices. Mir artisans find it difficult to maintain the jewellery items due to poor living conditions. Craft is hereditary and was initially made only for personal use. Focus is not on the craft. Artisans also buy ready-made jewellery and re-sell them to the tourist. Resources are available to everyone and can be learned, produced and consumed in a variety of contexts.
GAPS and OPPORTUNITIES Quality Craft and Tourism Place is well known for its wildlife attraction and is also promoted for that. Due to this tourists only visit the place for wildlife photography. Focusing on tangible aspects of providing clean drinking water and pakka houses for the community. Material property Craft is practised only for survival and earning and not with dedication. Unaware of the market requirements and current trends Unhealthy competition among artisans due to poor living conditions and the need for money Importance of craft Health hazards and impacts Exposure to the market Working space conditions affect the quality and consistency of the product Craft studies 51 M.Des 2022-24 Gaps and Opportunities
W S • Quick learners • Bargaining power: Procure raw materials at lower prices and sales at high prices • Lack of awareness about the market trends and requirements. • High illiteracy •Cultural norms, prejudices and mindset gap • Lack of promotion of products. •Unawareness of requirements in market. • No motivation for producing better quality products • No fixed price for the products. • Product finishing and quality. • Poor salesmanship. Craft studies 52 M.Des 2022-24 SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis O T • Access to education • Access to education • Ability to generate foreign income if the products are exported. • E-Commerce and Internet are emerged as promissory distribution channels to market and sell the craft products. • Co-creation with other crafts and collaboration with other artisans. • Low capital investment required. • Inexpensive substitute availability for bead jewellery. • Unsatisfactory service while customizing the products, may make the customers less likely to return. • Craft can be learned and produced easily. Craft studies 53 M.Des 2022-24
Our experience Craft studies 55 M.Des 2022-24 Craft research documentation is a way to Research study and experience a craft and the region. It was a great learning opportunity given NIFT. During the 5 day visit at Dasada, Gujarat enabled us to understand traditional craft cluster. These craft traditions, have perfected through generations of practice are repositories of traditional wisdom- of shapes, form, technique, colors and in a larger context, a way of life. These traditions are omnipresent in India. The documentation tries and portrays the larger systems that are at play. We learned during the visit how various elements interact with one another, making it simpler to understand how and how much the elements affect the general wellbeing of the community.
Anwaar Mohyuddin, Lubna Mahmood. 2014 , December. “Globalization and role transition among Mirasi community in Rawalpindi.” European Academic Research Vol. 2. Gite, Veidehi. 2022. Dasada: a land of wild, dramatic beauty. July 18. www.deccanherald.com. Jayaraman, Gayatri. 2018. Hindu, Muslim and homeless: Gujarat’s nomadic tribe Mirs stuck in noman’s land. February 13. hindustantimes.com. Neil, Andrian Mc. n.d. “Mirasis: some thoughts on Hereditary musicians in hindustani music .” A journal of music research. Niyati Kukadiya, Sonal Mehta. n.d. “Living bead cultures of gujarat.” Pratap, Rashmi. 2023. Niyati Kukadia: The engineer taking tribal beadwork jewellery from the Rann of Kutch to the world. February 1. https://30stades.com/art-culture/niyati-kukadia-engineer-takes-mir-tribal-beadwork-jewellery-rann-of-kutch-toworld. n.d. Zainabad Princely state- The history . https://infolog.in/zainabad-princely-state/. References Craft studies 56 M.Des 2022-24
Craft studies 57 M.Des 2022-24 Glossary • Moti: Bead • Mirs/Mirasi: A caste living in northern parts of India and Pakistan who have migrated to near by states. • Rabari: An indigenous tribal caste of nomadic cattle and camel herders and shepherds that live throughout northwest India, primarily in the states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan • Rutuchakra: Season is a period of less than a year in which weather conditions are of a particular type. This period divides a year into several parts during which the length of day, temperature, rainfall, humidity, etc. Weather conditions change in a cyclical manner. This cyclical change in weather conditions during the year has an effect on the ecosystem. • Ek moti ka kaam: Mono beading • Do moti ka kaam: Duo beading • Teen moti ka kaam: Tri beading • Bhil: Considered as one of the oldest tribe in India , living in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. • Padhar: Padhar tribal community is one of the scheduled tribal communities of the state of Gujarat and is reckoned as one of the most ancient tribal groups of Gujarat. • The Kathi Darbar: A caste found in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India. Kathi Kshatriya are popularly referred as Kathi Darbar. • Mahajan: An Indian surname and caste which belongs to the Vaishya varna. It signifies the profession of a moneylender, merchants, bankers and administrators. • Vanzara (banjara): The Vanjara or Banjara originally came from the western Indian state of Rajastan. Their main occupation before the British period was transporting salt, cattle and grain. Their name means “dwellers of the forest or jungle”. • Navratri: A festival honouring the goddess Durga
Craft studies 58 M.Des 2022-24 Figure 1: Indian Wild ass sanctuary, Little Rann of Kachchh Source: Author Figure 2: Jamiul Uloom Madrasa, Dasada Source: Author Figure 3: Little Rann of Kachchh Source: Author Figure 4: Beadwork artisans: Mir community Source: Author Figure 5: Beadwork community settlement at Dasada, Gujarat Source: Author Figure 6.1:Presence of Mir Community in Gujarat and Rajasthan Figure 6.2: Lakes in and around Dasada Source: Author Figure 7: Sakinaben Mir with her family at Mir community settlement in Dasada, Gujarat Source: Author Figure 8: Lashiben Mir at Desert Coursers Resort, Zainabad Source: Author Figure 9: Gender role in craft Source: Author Figure 10: Beadwork bangle Source: Author Figure 11: Ek moti ka kaam (Process) Source: Author Figure 12: Do moti ka kaam (Process) Source: Author Figure 13: Teen moti ka kaam (Process) Source: Author Figure 14: Chaar moti ka kaam (Process) Source: Author Figure 15: Atkani/Armlet Source: Author Figure 16: Hair clips Source: Author Figure 17: Necklace Source: Author Figure 18: Anklet Source: Author Figure 19: Earrings Source: Author Figure 20: Ring Source: Author Figure 21: Bangdi/Bangles Source: Author Figure 22: Keychain Source: Author Figure 23: Mobile pouch Source: Author List of figures
Craft studies 59 M.Des 2022-24 Figure 24: Choker Source: Author Figure 25: Chashme ki dori/Spectacle chain Source: Author Figure 26: Rakhi Source: Author Figure 27: Lashiben Karimbhai Mir Source: Author Figure 28: Kaliben Bhavabhai Mir Source: Author Figure 29: Sakinaben Umarbhai Mir Source: Author Figure 30: Places in and around, Dasada, Gujarat Source: Author Figure 31: Desert Coursers, Zainabad Source: https://desertcoursers.com/accomodation/ Figure 32: Rann Riders by Kafila, Dasada Source: https://www.toftigers.org/accommodation/rann-riders/ Figure 33: Desert Den Source: https://www.makemytrip.com/hotels/the_desert_den-details-dasada.html Figure 34: Little Rann Resort Source: https://www.makemytrip.com/hotels/little_rann_resort_little_ rann_of_kutch-details-dasada.html Figure 35: Bhavana Resorts and Farm Source: https://www.booking.com/hotel/in/bhavna-resort-amp-farm.html Figure 36: Mir community settlement at Dasada, Gujarat Source: Author Figure 37: Illustration depicting living conditions of Mir community settlement at Dasada Source: Author List of figures