IIT designs set to enhance baluchari saree

KOLKATA: The age-old baluchari saree is slated to undergo a sea change to drape today''s woman. So will the terracotta ''Bankura'' horse, the trademark of Bankura villages.
IIT Kharagpur has been approached by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to help "modernise" these state handicraft showpieces since these are gradually losing demand.
"These two items are recognised as indigenous to West Bengal all over the country. Ever since a survey revealed that these items were losing out on popularity, we had to reverse that," KVIC deputy director R.K. Saha told Times News Network.
"So, we approached IIT Kharagpur, which is doing some pioneering work on rural development," he added. Two IIT professors, of civil engineering and architecture, are handling the project, sanctioned by the Union ministry of agro-rural industry, that controls KVIC.
"KVIC has granted us Rs 60 lakh for the project, an extremely prestigious one aiming at rural development, IIT''s focus area for the next 20 years," said professor of civil engineering D.J. Sen, a key member of the project.
The overall guidance is being provided by IIT Kharagpur''s professor emeritus of architecture, R.N. Chattopadhyay.
The main problem regarding the Baluchari sarees as identified by the professors is that the same old motifs depicting scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata have been in use over the years.
"We found out from the artisans of Bankura who create these sarees, that beyond two or three designs handed down the generations, they cannot create other designs," stated Sen.
"So, we are devising computer-generated designs (floral, geometric and other motifs) that can be easily copied on graph paper and transferred on to the sarees," he added.In case of the Bankura horse, the main problem lies with the furnace, claimed the professors.
"They still follow a technique, not only developed centuries ago, but also fuel consuming. We are re-designing the furnace so that it generates maximum heat for baking these horses, albeit with little fuel," claimed Sen.
These professors are also developing chappals, doormats, bags and weaved products using sabai grass that grows widely in rural Bengal.
Also, coir making from sisal tree fibre and developing candy from honey have been covered by the project, too. "Our task will be over only when we train villagers at the KVIC identified villages to use the products that we are developing," added Sen.