Kachchh has hosted a wealth of people from all across the world who came to herd livestock, to trade, to conquer or to escape persecution from their motherland.
For centuries, rain-fed agriculture and pastoralist livelihoods centered around cattle and livestock have supported the region. As is common around the world, craft and folk music are intertwined with Kachchh’s pastoral livelihoods. The region’s craft and folk music traditions which originated in Rajasthan and Sindh, Pakistan have evolved to represent the unique culture and environment of the region. They are an essential part of local culture and identity.
While agriculture is the predominant livelihood in India, craft and agriculture have parallel economic importance in Kachchh. There is great potential for Kachchh’s craft sectors. However, recent changes in markets, the availability of local natural resources, and a lack of needed resources and information challenge Kachchh’s craft industry. Artisans from each craft sector face individual and common challenges which must be overcome to sustain local livelihoods and craft traditions.
In Kachchh, craft is essentially a creative industry. Craft is the key to sustaining local livelihoods. |
In 2001, a massive earthquake shook the region, resulting in a significant loss of life and widespread destruction. The earthquake’s impact on craft livelihoods was devastating. Those most affected were non-embroidery artisans who lost their meagre asset base – work-sheds, tools, equipments, and local markets. For the younger generation of artisans, this seemed the last straw. They were no longer interested in continuing their inherited skill and tradition. |
In the immediate years following the quake, Kachchh’s craft sector stood at cross-roads: on one hand artisans confronted quake-related losses as well as an erratic rehabilitation response. On the other hand, they were exposed to a buoyant national economy and heightened access to information and communication. They chose to combine both to create a unique blend of livelihood which though steeped in tradition was ready to look at new opprtunities. Today, 60,000 Kachchhi families are dependent, to varying extents, on craft as livelihood.
Kachchh’s craft sector stood at cross-roads. |
