Indian Woodcrafts, from anonymity to synonymity

Tree is one of nature"s best gifts. The intake of mature trees provides wood products, which can adorn our homes and offices. A close up of the woodcraft culture of India

Human life began in the African Continent. Scientific evidences support that. The oldest fossils of the early ancestors of human kind are found in Africa and that"s the greatest excavation related to the origin of man hitherto. The earliest

Ancestor of man is named Australopithecine and his followers are named Homo Habilis and Homo Erectus. Both Homo Habilis and Homo Erectus are the people who started tool making. The former made it with stone and the latter with wood.

Man"s friendship with wood is as old as the time of Homo Erectus. Tree was man"s greatest support. Tree provided his basic needs. Its barks clothed him, its leaves sheltered him and its fruits satiated his hunger. In the lapse of time he learned how to shape the logs of tree in to different forms by cutting, razing and trimming. Thus Teak, Tamarind, Oak, Pipal, Fig, Laurel, Olive, Poplar, Sycamore, Banyan and so many other trees became subject to his skills. Time passed in the form of days, weeks, months, years, centuries and millenniums. Life and social order recognized occupation as something which man has to do to make his life go on. The people who were specialized and well accustomed in wood cutting and wood shaping took to what we call in our times carpentry and then they slowly turned wood cutters, wood craftsmen, wood carvers, form engravers, wood engravers and furniture makers and so on and so forth. The art of woodcraft got to a start there.

Though it"s impossible to trace the history of woodcraft in India there are occasional comments on the craft found in the ancient scriptures. Woodcraft in India was at its acme during the time of the glorious Vijayanagar Empire southern India (1336 AD). From the vivid descriptions of Hu en Tsang, the Chinese traveler and the remains in Hampi, the world"s biggest open-air museum it"s understood that woodcraft was considered an important art and trade. Craftsmen received much patronage from the royalty then, for their amazing creations. From the most subliminal temples to the broken down hovels of the poor man across the great Indian land woodcraft is visible in all its glory. Carved wooden doors, wooden posts and wooden gateways are found even in the remote villages of Orrisa, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, just the way its found in almost all the monuments and places of historical importance. In the south especially in the state of Tamilnadu wood works like Ratha (Car), a massive replica of a chariot of the olden times made of wood with carvings in the most beautiful styles is found in most of the temples. The archeological remains of the erstwhile Kingdoms of the south like Cholas of Tanjore and Pandiyas of Madurai give some information about the illustration of diverse styles of woodcraft.

Indian furniture making and woodcraft are highly influenced by art and literature. In the 19th century South India was famous for densely carved ebony wood furniture. Most Palaces in the south are examples for that as ebony wood was used mainly for royal furnishings. If it was ebony wood, which described the art of south, it was the Walnut, which became famous in Kashmir. Besides the artistic and cultural importance what beefed up the art of woodcraft was the essence of continuity. Wood was something on which the carvers could express their mythology; legend and folklore because wood could preserve them for centuries. Religious faith thus was carried on to the future generations through wood craft and the contribution of the regional India in preserving ancient artistic and cultural heritage cannot be overlooked as they are responsible for the unbroken chain of continuity of all traditions.

Indian craftsmen are famous for their immaculate styles in creating wonders on wood. The craftsmen of Kashmir are well known for creating intricate carvings on the wood obtained from the walnut tree and the furniture items they make have rich floral and trellis patterns carved on them. Though ethnic tensions prevail in Kashmir, Northern most state of India the Kashmiri craft has found a place in the global map. When it comes to the wood craft of Punjab its authentic and selective. Uttar Pradesh has many craft centers engaged in making items out of wood, like vine leaf patterns on sesham wood and toras from teakwood. Rajasthan is well known for decorative objects made from locally obtained wood and for carved items such as cabinets, screens, chairs, tables and almirahs. The history of Gujarati furniture is related to the Mughals who were great patrons of art. Gujarati woodcrafts include candleholders, decorative tableware, wooden fruit, nut and salad bowls, tray-cum-side table, soups bowl and range of cutlery. The South Indian states do have a distinct style in their art of wood craft with Channapatna in Karnataka state and Kondapalli in the state of Andhra Pradesh are famous for wooden toys. Channapatna since 1961 holds the first place in Asia in exporting wooden toys. Karnataka also has its aesthetic wood carving tradition. Carvings and decorative Items like boxes, trays, key chains pieces made from sandalwood not only have perfection but also fragrance which lasts for decades. Most Indians consider sandalwood to be scented by God. Most of the icons of Gods and Goddesses are made from sandalwood. Mysore palace, in the Karnataka State known for its architectural novelty has much furniture made in sandalwood.

West Bengal and Kerala are famous for woodcrafts made from coconut tree. The traditional houses of Kerala, the southern most state of India, known as "Nalukettu" are of carved and slotted wood and have a close resemblance to East Asian gabled and thatched structures. Carved wooden roof is an attraction in almost all "Nalukettus." Most of them have survived many centuries.

Indian wooden furniture has always been known for its durability, elegance and design, which lends a refined look where ever it is placed and the basic reason why Indian furniture is regarded with great importance is because of its ethnic flavor. Though progress and rapid developments in information and technology has brought new styles and tools, the traditional Indian woodcarver still use the simplest of tools and follow the style of his ancestors and that in fact has kept the traditional crafts alive. Many craft traditions in the country have been handed down from generation to generation and that has helped the art remain in highest degree of perfection.

Woodcraft found its worst phase during the freedom struggle of India albeit after a sulk it made a come back. Thanks to India Government"s initiative in devising the channels of service in order to build up the closest possible relationship between the craftsmen and the buyers. The Government"s experimental and research programs have helped in encouraging families dedicated to the wood art. Government"s intentions and projects to go out in search of craftsmen, who despite being creative and innovative subjected to the negligence of those responsible has helped craftsmen besotted, to come back and start the wood art all over again. Government"s propaganda of the woodcraft and handicrafts has found a great market for Indian crafts in the west. The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, EPCH the apex body which co ordinates handicrafts exports from India under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India with 6300 member exporters provides both the craftsmen and the buyer everything that"s required to keep the art going. The Council also organizes, buyer seller meets, conferences and trade shows

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The Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair held in New Delhi, from 13th to 16th October 2002 was beyond doubt a success. It was attended by people from France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Netherlands U.S.A., U.K., Canada, Germany, Portugal, Cyprus, Romania, Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Japan besides other countries of the Middle East, Scandinavia, Benelux, and Latin America and is considered to be the biggest fair of its kind in Asia. The fair has over the years, given a big boost to the Indian handicrafts industry.

Indian wood craftsman can now create magic without worries of security and financial Predicament and communicate to the world with his gift -the gift of art.