Handicrafts in Assam

Some Special Crafts of Assam Bell Metal crafts:

Bell metal craft is one of the hereditary crafts of Assam. Bell metal is an alloy of copper and tin. A large number of utility items are made out of this metal which has certain distinctive characteristic features of its own as compared to other metals. For example, food kept in the utensils made out of bell metal is not spoiled. For Bengali and Assamese families, it is traditional utility cum gift item. They are in common use in every household because of some religious sentiments attached to it.

The main production centres in the state are located at Sarthebari, Titabari and Raha in Assam. Sarthebari is the main commercial centre, in the entire NorthEast. In this centre there are many cooperative societies of producers of this metal craft. Most of the units are cottage based.

The range of products produced in Assam include a wide variety of utility and decorative items of bell metal. These are locally called as: kahi, bati, ban, bota, bhortal, lota, sarai, ashana, charka, barkahi, hati, khujia bati, malhang, safura. The bell metal industry in Assam is using antiquated techniques in the production process which are entirely manual and hence are laborious. Due to the narrow scope for export of bell metal products from India, there is a gradual shift in the production from bell metal to brass metal items. This shift is also due to meet the local need for bell metal items.

Cane and bamboo products:

Goods produced from cane and bamboo have a distinct advantage over other materials like wood and steel. The range of products produced from cane include sofa sets, chairs of different shapes and types like easy chairs, arm chairs, rocking chairs, dining chairs, tables of different types like side tables, central tables and basket wares for different uses. The products produced from cane and bamboo have great demand all over the world for hotels, hospitals, casinos, clubs etc. because of their light weight, comfort and low price.

The cane and bamboo industry is scattered throughout the state in rural as well as in certain urban areas. Commercial production of cane furniture in the state is mainly concentrated in Silchar, in Cachar district of Assam. The other important centres in Assam are Mangaldoi, Nalbari, Jorhat, Golaghat etc.

Wood carvings:

Wood wares industry in the State is scattered and the production is confined to a few items only. The products made of the wood locally available are limited to human and animal figures, fruit bowls, dragon, and other masks, flower vases and few other decorative items.

Jute craft:

West Bengal accounts for the largest share of both area and production of jute, Bihar has the second share followed by Assam. These three states accounts for 90% of the total production in the country. In Assam, jute is grown mostly in the lower Brahmaputra valley and to some extent in the Surma valley. A variety of products are made by the artisans of Assam, i.e., jute decorative which include materials of home furnishing, dress goods, harts, belts, shoes, table and floor mats, hammocks etc.

Sitalpati:

Sitalpati which means cool spread, is most appropriate of its quality, made from green cane slips. They are also woven along with maroon dyed slips which make a lovely contrast against its own natural golden shade. This mat is made from a reed which grows abundantly in marshy spots. The weaving is mostly done in twill. Generally the warp is one colour and weft of another. Sometimes two styles are worked together to produce a number of designs. The usual motifs are trees, creepers, animals, birds, stylized human forms as also geometrical designs. The finest sitalpati is used in Assam to sleep on, as it is cool for summer nights. Another special feature of this is, women do the weaving while men take other processes.

Number of Handicraft Units and Artisans in Assam in according to 1995-96 census:

Number of Handicraft Units and Artisans in Assam according to 1995-96 census Classified under Craft Groups:

Number of Handicraft Units and Artisans in Assam according to 1995-96 census Classified District-wise:

Nodal agencies/ institutions :

Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), HOUSEFED Office Complex, Second Floor, Central Building, Beltola Basistha Road, Guwahati-781006, Assam

Address of Marketing and Service Extension Centre and Bamboo and Cane Development Institute:

• Marketing and Service Extension Centre, Ward No.4, Promothesh Barua Road, Gauripur, Dhubri, PIN-783331, Assam, Ph. no.(03662)81514

• Assistant Director (Handicrafts), Marketing and Service Extension Centre, Nehru Park, Jorhat, Assam, PIN-785001, Ph. no.(0376)321846

• Office of the Commissioner, Textiles, handloom & Sericulture, Assam Secretariat, Dispur, Ph-(0361)261384

• Directorate of Industries and Commerce, Udyog Bhawan, Bamunimaidan, Guwahati-781021, Ph. no.(0361)550717, Deputy Director (Handicrafts), Ph. no.(0361)550345

• Office of the Managing Director, Assam Govt. Marketing Corporation Ltd., Ambari, Guwahati-781001, Ph. no.(0361)543439

Data source : Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), North Eastern Region, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India