Art, Not Violence, is The Warp And Woof of Northeast India

By Maitreyee Boruah

Bangalore, Oct 20 : There is more to Northeast India than it just being the land of militancy.

This is what a group of artisans from the eight states in the region are trying to portray through the exquisite handicrafts that they have brought to the city.

“We are fed up of being tagged as people from a violence-ridden land. Northeast has a large pool of talented artisans, and we are here to promote our handicrafts and handloom works,” said Pam, an artisan from Ukhrul, Manipur.

Pam along with about 130 other artisans from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are taking part in the ‘North-East crafts fair’, a 14-day exhibition-cum-sale of handicrafts held at Safina Plaza, Infantry Road.

The fair, which will end on October 31, is being organised by North-Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC) in association with development commissioner (handicrafts), ministry of textiles, government of India.

Pam and her co-artisan Presley have brought artifacts made of stone, which include grey-black pottery exclusively made by Tangkhul Naga tribe of Longpi village to the event.

“Unlike most other pottery works, Longpi stone pottery does not use potters’ wheel and is made completely with hands and moulds. Also, these pots are gas stove and microwave oven-friendly,” said Presley.

“Over 38 lakh people are employed directly or indirectly in the handicraft and handloom sectors in the region. Their works are unique and we try to promote their talent by organising such fairs across the country,” said RS Chankum, an official, NEHHDC. “These events are also an effort to give proper exposure for the artisans to a wider market and larger clientele,” he said.

“Be it the very functional laishingfee (quilted cotton materials) andkauna grass cushions and mattress of Manipur,endi silk fabrics of Meghalaya, artistic bamboo caps from Mizoram, or magnificent carpet using dragon, geometric and floral motifs of Arunachal Pradesh, the uniqueness of northeast region comes alive in its traditional craft works,” he added.