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Revival of Crafts and Social Change: Case Study on Dholka

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Abstract

This chapter is an attempt to study and understand how revival of crafts leads to social change, innovation being the vital pivot. Specific focus is given to the Wada community, which practices the woodturning and lacquer craft in Dholka region of Gujarat (India). This cluster represents exemplary illustration as to how innovations can revive the crafts and bring social change without losing focus on the community’s ethos, craft traditions, existing knowledge systems and empirical skills. Also, it is interesting to investigate how this community operates and meets the contemporary market needs whereas the other clusters in Gujarat that practice the same craft are on the verge of dying. The chapter is based on the deductive research methodology and case-study approach. The research concentrates on both qualitative and quantitative aspects of innovation, craft revival and social change.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Source: Unpublished monograph of DICRC.

  2. 2.

    Richard Sennett in The Craftsman explained “The workshop is the craftsman’s home. Workshops present and past have glued people together through work rituals, whether these be a shared cup of tea or the urban parade; through mentoring, whether the formal surrogate parenting of medieval times or informal advising on the worksite; through face-to-face sharing of information. In theory the well-run workshop should balance tacit and explicit knowledge.”

  3. 3.

    The local vocabulary kit for the hand tools is the outcome of the field research done by the author at DICRC.

  4. 4.

    The local vocabulary kit for the machines is the outcome of the field research (unpublished) done by the author at DICRC.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architecture and Planning, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India

    Smriti Saraswat

Authors
  1. Smriti Saraswat
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Correspondence to Smriti Saraswat .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, School of Management & Labour Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Satyajit Majumdar

  2. Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, School of Management & Labour Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Samapti Guha

  3. Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, School of Management & Labour Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Nadiya Marakkath

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

1.1 Craftspersons’ Local Vocabulary for the Hand Tools

  • Nakhlau (Gouges) – used while turning wood – 1″ blade

  • Chaursi (Chisels) – for finishing, while turning wood – 1″ blade

  • Kaus – for supporting sections of wood, while turning them

  • Sainiyuu – for making grooves

  • Prakaar (Compass) – for measuring radius, marking

  • Animaar (Awl) – tool with a long, pointed spike, used for making holes in wood

  • Hathaudi (hammer) – small and big – used for beating and nailing

  • Kaanch paper (sand paper) – used for finishing

  • Sauya – needle used for supporting dadham (component of ghodiyu, explained later)

  • Punck/Keela – used for joining huks

  • Vindnu, Pharsi – used for making holes

figure b

1.2 Craftspersons’ Local Vocabulary for the Machines

  • Chakel – machine used for cutting wood

  • Hangada – available in two sizes (small and big) – used for turning and painting

  • Drill Machine – used for making holes

  • Khada – used for applying silver and golden paint – it is faster than hangada

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Saraswat, S. (2015). Revival of Crafts and Social Change: Case Study on Dholka. In: Majumdar, S., Guha, S., Marakkath, N. (eds) Technology and Innovation for Social Change. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2071-8_11

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