Raman Sharma
As
per Alfred Adler, the father of Individual Psychology, the term “Inferiority Complex” denotes an intense feeling of not belonging,
or a feeling of being less than."
 |
| Alfred Adler |
To
begin this piece of writing, explaining the meaning of ‘Inferiority’ becomes
more important whenever we discuss about the languages, culture, tradition,
cuisines, religious values, important historic places, and talented artists,
sportspersons or even Handicraft of Jammu because of obvious reasons.
Jammuites
knowingly or otherwise lack a sense of belongingness to their roots there may
be varied reasons for that but it is bitter truth.
Jammuites should at least take a cue from neighboring
state of Punjab or their own Kashmir to understand that how do people there
cherish their Languages, Traditions, folks, Culture and of course handicraft.
Now,
coming straight to the topic; recently
Local Newspapers here published very encouraging news regarding a Jammu
NGO being awarded in an International
Handicraft Mela in Faridabad Haryana by Satyadev Narayan Arya, the Governor of
Haryana and as per the news report it was also mentioned that this
International Mela was organized by tourism department of Haryana in
collaboration with government of
India’s Ministry of External Affairs this forth night long event
was earlier inaugurated by Ram Nath Kovind, the president of India and in the Mela around 13 Lac visitors
local and foreigner paid their visit.
News
report also informed that one Mukti Society, a Jammu based NGO was being
conferred with “Kala Nidhi” Award that included a trophy, certificate and Cash,
the award had been given to this NGO for its outstanding contribution towards
promotion of " Prali Craft " of Jammu.
Well
for most of Jammuites at least for younger people living in urban and sub-urban
areas of Jammu it was a kind of surprise because many of us had not even heard
about this Prali Craft ( Straw craft ) of Jammu because whenever we heard of
handicraft of Jammu and Kashmir we always visualised and felt presence of Kashmiri-Carpets, Pashmina Shawls, wood
carving or Kashmiri embroidery, surely it is equally soothing because Kashmir belongs to all of us and we must
encourage that too.
While
looking for further details about this Prali Craft or Stubble Craft of Jammu ,
on surfing the website of the Directorate of Handicrafts of Government of Jammu and Kashmir, nothing
could be found about this Prali Craft of Jammu.
Though
as per the data published in the official website of J & K Handicraft
Department “www.jkhandicrafts.com, it
claims that there are 2.50 lac artisans in the J & K state(now UT)
that are directly linked with Handicrafts for their livelihood and it also
claims that J & K’s handicraft fetches
Rs. 1700 crore foreign exchange each annually .There
is not even an iota of information related to this Prali Craft of Jammu hosted
on this official website of J & K government , surprisingly the same
craft that have earned such a
prestigious “ “ Kala Nidhi” award in an International event.Though,
Nidhi Sharma, the founder and chairperson of the Mukti NGO while sharing her
experiences does not blame the
government or the handicraft department of J & K but she holds the apathy
of the people of Jammu responsible who according to her remained unconnected to
their own roots and responsible for not taking pride and exhibiting their rich
cultural heritage including handicrafts.
She
said “ Even if government of J & K or government of India spend millions of
rupees in promoting any art or handicraft yet
it remains incomplete without the participation of its people from where
that art or handicraft originate, Jammu
people must appreciate ourselves and each of us should be the ambassador for
our culture and craft” .
Somehow
she is right but the government and concerned departments cannot be completely
exonerated for not giving due place to the handicrafts of Jammu region be it
Basohli Painints or Prali Craft, both these crafts if provided little support
of by the government, they could fetch a
significant amount of employment for our youth.
Disposing
of Prali ( Straw) is
one of the major concern of three state including Delhi, Haryana and
Punjab and when the farmers of Haryana
and Punjab burn this Prali in open field that emits clouds of harmful polluted smoke that causes major risk
for human lives especially children and
old age people.
The
rural women artisans of Jammu’s Kishtwar area can become the national partner
in resolving this serious problem of Air pollution in the northern region of
India caused by burning of Prali, in fact this Prali that is considered as a
trash and problem and be turned into wealth.
Through this write up,
Shri Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, IAS, the Commissioner/Secretary to the Government of Jammu and
Kashmir, Industries and Commerce Department who has also served in different
departments of Union government for a
long, is appealed to help these female artisans from remote Kishtwar area of
Jammu to organize and institutionalize this Prali Craft and encourage the
artisans involved in this craft. They make beautiful artifacts like slippers
(Chappal), Binna, grass, Kambal (Blankets), Pattu's, Bamboo products, Chattais,
Beautiful wall Hangins and many more other products.
This rich rural
handicraft of Jammu needs to be appreciated in the initial stage then
like our other main handicrafts of Kashmir region it would also not only fetch
foreign exchange for the region but also boost tourism and name of J & K in
global arena ultimately help in resolving the problem of growing unemployment.
The J & K Handicraft department itself should open more sale points for
sale of Handicrafts or lend help to the artisans to open these shops in main
tourist’s spot in the Union territory.
The
Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Board should also get involved in
promotion of Prali Handicraft as it can be useful in checking air pollution.
Besides
Industries and Handicradt department, other allied departments of Jammu and
Kashmir like Rural Development Department, Agriculture department, forest
department, Social welfare and women development department in promotion of
this rural Handicraft.
The
people of Jammu and Kashmir and especially of Jammu should also using the
social media platforms, write ups and using other platform must encourage these rural handicrafts of our
region and come out of the disease called “Inferiority Complex”.
