Readers familiar with Bengali literature are likely to be acquainted with Manik Bandyopadhyay’s famous short story Shilpi (artist).
The protagonist Madan Tanti (weaver) refused to weave towels and stop producing the famed Benarashi silk sarees as ordered by his Zamindar. The story set in pre-independence India explores the plight of weavers like Madan Tanti who were then forced to withdraw from their traditional craft of weaving Benarashi silk sarees and instead forced to weave towels by their Zamindari lords. The story reveals the conflicts faced by these weavers and was a brilliant representation how traditional artisans were forced out of their trade.
Cutting back to the present, recent government data show a nearly 30% drop in traditional artistry and employment in the handicraft sector. Handloom is an important part of the Indian handicrafts and the segment has been negatively impacted by the recently rolled out Goods and Services Tax (GST). Marking this year as the worst year for his trade in the last decade, Supendra Basak, a textile businessman of Phulia, Nadia district, West Bengal said, “Unfavourable effects of GST can be clearly seen in the handloom industry. GST refunds and hazardous way-bill procedures are delaying our progress. Another problem is that the new tax regime does not distinguish between handmade and machine made products. That is unfair and hampers the growth of the industry.”
Problems of the handicraft sector in India
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Deposit shortage: challenges facing India's banking ecosystem
In any macroeconomic framework, the household sector plays a critical role as a driver consumption, savings, and overall economic activity.
India's future dreams in Semiconductors & AI
A midst the gloom of the RG Kar affair or the Tirupati laddu scam or even the continued terrorist attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, even after the completion of the first general election in the state, we find hope and encouragement when the founder of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, in his recent visit to India says \"India will be a gigantic opportunity for us\".
The Ramayana: Justice and Modern Man
Consisting of Twenty-Four Thousand worthy Sanskrit verses, the Ramayana is one such epic, which provides a pathway to one committed to justice to establish himself as an ideal human being by following the exemplary life of its hero.
Vallabhbhai Patel: A Sardar of Farmers, A Matchless Social Reformer and the Maker of United India
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was instrumental in unifying the princely states to form the Union of India.
Understanding Prosperity: NOBEL Prize awarded for groundbreaking research on institutions and economic development
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the Memory of Alfred Nobel to three US-based economistsDaron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson\"for their studies on how institutions are formed and affect prosperity.\"
Sinking Resources: Groundwater crisis and sustainable solutions in Kolkata
Kolkata's underground water crisis is becoming a serious issue, driven by rapid urbanization and the construction of high-rise buildings.
Tourism Industry positively impacted by the festive season
Diwali transforms streets into a spectacle of festive lights, Diwali transforms streets into olis, and families gearing up for grand celebrations.
RBI's Shift to a Neutral Stance: Signaling a New Phase in Monetary Policy
For over a year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a firm stance against inflation, raising interest rates by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023 in response to post-pandemic price pressures.
UK Budget
There _ he latest UK budget represents a departure from previous fiscal documents.
Han Kang's Historic Nobel Prize Win
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to T South Korean writer Han Kang, 53, known for her works including The Vegetarian, The White Book, Human Acts, and Greek Lessons.
