Craft & its importance in education
I will start by listing few objectives concerning the integration of crafts into mainstream education system. It’s important to keep in mind the WHY.
- To revive INTEREST in Indian crafts and analyze the relevance of it in present times
- To help teachers and parents equally to value and identify the importance of local craft sources.
- To not just celebrate but place a higher importance on Valuing the crafts
- To inculcate the value of dignity of labor
- To grow aesthetic sensibilities related to Indian culture
India is a country where there is a vibrant and living tradition of crafts. The wide geographical diversity of India can be seen in the craft work found across the nation. Craftsmen and communities are falling apart due to various known reasons. The goal is therefore to come up with a model that can be replicated as well as contextualized by exploring the possibilities.
Handicrafts ought to be placed beside Artificial intelligence, Information Technology, etc., reemphasizing its importance. Some of the skills that can be learnt and developed from the crafts are societal skills, creativity, entrepreneurial skills among others. Gandhi strongly advocated for learning while doing, work-integrated learning, respect for manual skills and self-reliance through sustainable livelihoods. It’s time to bring in the skill-based courses from primary stage to enable the very basic mind- hand- body coordination in kids.
As a crowd who already understands this, how shall we go ahead in disseminating these profound realizations before we lose the already dying crafts?
Enabling to practice, preserve and promote is the beginning of many steps to come. It recognizes, supports and enables traditional crafts to suit the current times.
Khamir — a craft organization working towards creating awareness related to immediate craft context has done brilliant research for craft integrated education. The aspect of Khamir module, which is worth a mention here for example, if we have to teach weaving. The teaching starts right from the price of acquiring wool or cotton (raw materials) right from the beginning (sheep, say or cotton plants) and understanding each process or stage (even farming of those plants), thereby learning various different scientific concepts on the way.
It becomes very necessary to impart education in such a way that it not only encourages the youth to take up and pursue the crafts but are also supporting the local crafts and helping in the revival of the local economy.
I am not sure at this point if a Craft training institute like that would work. Or like how craft education is contextualized along with e-commerce; but there is an attempt to provide deeper understanding relating to craft, conservation and culture of Kutch. That is something that becomes important. They also hold workshops, exhibitions, school visits etc. placing a lot of importance on how the community there perceives the crafts. According to me, it’s a very valuable approach and can be a starting point regardless of any region, village, rural, urban context. It will help us understand the underlying problems distinctly.
Increasing awareness can also make people realize that handicrafts are not only lavish clothing but also daily using products like bowls, kitchen utensils etc. is a step towards an ecofriendly future. Craft education in schools also promote entrepreneurship skills and a sense of self-employment. Apart from these, there is a need to provide a platform for showcasing the talent of artisans and craftsmen for them to feel recognized and appreciated. (Again, referring to the CD meet with artisans, almost each of them felt there isn’t enough appreciation for the work they do) This will possibly be an indirect byproduct.
Points to be taken ahead:
- What is the beginning point and where is it most needed?
- How is this materialized? Say, what medium of communication, learning is apt to draw attention.
- Do we simultaneously begin to address urban and rural areas, considering demand vs supply?
- Interdisciplinary involvement and collaboration- a way forward?