Crafting Change

SUPPORT from the director of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Saryu Doshi, and patrons like Sangita Jindal, Radhika Dubash, Meera Zaveri and Ashok Salian, is a surefire success formula for any organisation. No wonder that Paramparik Karigar, the national network of rural artisans — founded by the late Roshan Kalapesi — is all set for India’s first ever crafts auction. (Bringing down the hammer will be Peter Buston of Bowrings.)

Thanks to them, artisan Kailashchand Kumawat can now envision an even brighter future for his youngest son Ravi, who is set to become a traditional miniature painter like his father. ‘‘The craft is not an easy one and requires much time and effort. We have used only traditional materials like lac, Hilkari gold and natural dyes. The portrait of Shah Jehan and Mumtaz was a special endeavour and took us six months and twenty days to make,’’ says Kumawat, whose family of five works together on each painting.

The auction cashes in on the rarity factor too. For, from Praveen Thaker’s Paithanis from Yeola to Salma Khatun’s Bengal Kantha and Pranab Narayan Das’ pattachitra painted boxes, nothing is mass produced. The aim’s simply to create an international market for Indian craft, to say the least. This, of course, while promising not to affect the pocket-friendly, less authentic crafts.

The auction will be held on on April 2 at the Taj Mahal Hotel, in Mumbai