Dhokra Craft: Design Research - Akshita Gupta (FC IV)

DHOKRA CRAFT
DESIGN RESEARCH
-Akshita Gupta (FC IV)
1) Source- ( INFORMATION FROM PREVIOUS RESEARCH )
www.ijcorar.com
www.arcjournals.org
www.aiacaonline.org
www.jharcraft.com
About:
• Dhokra is an ancient folk art tradition prevalent in India in the eastern states of West Bengal, Odisha,
Jharkhand ,Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Its roots can be traced back 4500 years to the ancient city of Mohenjodaro in the Indus Valley Civilization.
• The name Dokra or Dhokra was used to indicate a group of craftsmen of the Dhokra Damar tribe.
• In Bengal the groups are found in the tribal regions of Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Bardhaman and Medinipur.
• In Chhattisgarh, these artists, rather craftsmen, are clustered in Bastar district, wherein they are concentrated in the
region around Kondagaon and Jagdalpur.
Materials used:
The basic raw material used for making Dhokra articles is brass which is procured in the form of used brass utensils or any other
brass scrap.
The brass scrap is available for Rs. 220 to Rs. 250 per kg of scrap, depending on the availability and market conditions.
The other raw materials required are:
1. Aari Mitti/Chikti Mitti (Black Soil)
2. Bhoosa (Rice Husk)
3. Rui Mitti (Riverside Soil)
4. Gobar (Cow-dung)
5. Lal Mitti (Red Soil)
6. Sem Patta (Bean Leaves)

7. Mome (Wax)
Jalawan (Fire Wood)
2) Source-MY MOTHER TALKED WITH AN ARTISAN AT A LOCAL MELA WHERE HE WAS

SELLING DHOKRA CRAFT FROM ODISHA
History and process:

Dhokra Art is a traditional casting method that has been practiced in India for over 4,000 years: one of the oldest techniques of its
kind. The Dhokra Damar tribes were the original metalsmiths of West Bengal and the technique of lost wax casting is named
after their tribe.
Using the lost wax technique, wax made from beeswax, resin, and oil is shaped either on its own, as in South India, or over a clay
form, as in Central and Eastern India. The craftsman kneads the wax by hand, which warms the material for ease of use. Most
pieces take on the shapes of folk motifs, animals, or religious figures and range in size from jewelry to large sculptures.
The wax is covered in layers of clay to make a cast; this is where the final details are added. Artisans pour liquid metal- usually
brass- into the core through a funnel left at the top of the mold. When cooled, the clay is chipped off and the metal is polished
and/or patinaed into a finished product. There can be many variations in final product depending on the artisan and location.
The lost wax application is in high demand due to the simplicity in form and detailed composition. Once the clay mold is broken
off the metal, a new mold must be made. Since Dhokra art is hand formed, each is unique and cannot be exactly replicated.
3) Source- ( CASE STUDY OF BANKURA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL )
https://rajeshkochhar.com/data/publications/bankura.pdf
Problems faced by artisans:
 The Dokra Kamaras suffer from poverty, mal -nutrition, and sanitation.
 The increasing price of raw material is forcing the artisans to be less interested in creating these articles.
 Rising price of the end product is attracting less buyers.
 Lack of inspiration and knowledge of modern technology.
 Dokra crafts are under threat of steep decline because of competition from the cheaper machine- made local substitutes.
 The majority of artisans are not aware about various new schemes by government and NGOs.
 Illiteracy often makes them more vulnerable.
4) Source- Utkalika Odisha State Emporium, New Delhi
Dhokra casting of the “Situlias” is another example of Odisha's metal ware. Dhokra is an alloy of brass, nickel and zinc which
emanates antique look. (The wide product range on Dhokra with their antique look goes well with interior decor).
5) Source- https://www.arcjournals.org/pdfs/ijhcs/v1-i3/3.pdf (Article on Dhokra craft)
Abstract: Indian rural secondary activities continue to depend substantially on traditional crafts and craftsmen. The Bronze Age
on the Indian subcontinent began around 3300 BC. Inhabitants of the Indus Valley, the Harappans, developed new techniques in
metallurgy (Dhokra). ‘Dokra’ is non–ferrous metal casting using the lost-wax casting technique. Now the ‘Dhokra’ people are
settled over a vast tract in the mineral-rich central Indian tribal belt. This ethnic craft had crossed a long path and till a date it is
practiced by the craftsman in ancient and tradition way. Here the paper covers the historical aspects of non ferrous metal casting
technique of ‘Dhokra’ and identify the sight of ‘Dhokra’ art in recent era. This art is the living archaeological remnant of Neolithic
figurine art and it also the remnant of non ferrous metallic craft of pre Iron era.
6) Source- http://ftp.gvtindia.org/yogini_handicraft ( NGO helping Dhokra Craft)

Gramin Vikas Trust has been undertaking various developmental projects that aim and strive for improved and sustainable rural
livelihood in remotest and poorest areas of the country. One of these initiatives undertaken by GVT, in 2011, is Yogini
Handicraft - a unique & challenging concept which aims to bring famous Arts & Crafts of tribal and rural communities under
one roof for better visibility and marketing potential for improving livelihoods of the artisans.

Pilot Project:

Often, the craftsmen are exploited by the middlemen and agents, hence to address this issue, GVT on a pilot scale started
marketing of handicraft items made by the tribal living in its project areas. Initially, it joined hands with Jhitku Mitki Van Hast
Kala Samiti and Bastar Arts, Chhattisgarh. Bastar Arts, it is an organization engaged in manufacturing and selling of
traditional Dhokra (Bell Metal) crafts made by traditional tribal folks from Chhattisgarh. The Art strictly follows the ancient and
traditional methods of manufacturing Dhokra products, i.e., using Cire Perdue or Lost Wax thread method for metal casting.
Dhokra is one of the earliest known methods of metal casting, and dates back to prehistoric times of Harappa and Mohenjo-
Daro period of Indus Valley Civilization.

Now, GVT procures handicrafts directly from the tribal groups and sells them to various corporate houses and other potential
buyers. The proceeds from these sells go directly to the tribal and consequently earn a substantial amount of profit as compared
to what they used to get when they sold their items through a middle man or an agent.
Some of the handicraft items promoted by Yogini Handicraft include Dhokra Art and Bell Metal created by Jhitku Mitki Van
Hast Kala Samiti and Bastar Arts; Bamboo Crafts by Bamboo Emporium and Saraswati Swayam Sahyita Samuh
(Godda); Patachitra Paintings and Dhokra Art from Odisha; Wood and Iron items from Saharanpur; Brass & Metal
creations from Moradabad; Decorative Pieces specially of Lord Ganesha master crafted in Marble from Jaipur and Soft
Toys from Jhabua.

Dhokra Craft: Design Research - Akshita Gupta (FC IV)

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DHOKRA CRAFT

1) Source- ( INFORMATION FROM PREVIOUS RESEARCH )

The other raw materials required are:

1. Aari Mitti/Chikti Mitti (Black Soil)

2. Bhoosa (Rice Husk)

3. Rui Mitti (Riverside Soil)

5. Lal Mitti (Red Soil)

6. Sem Patta (Bean Leaves)

Jalawan (Fire Wood)

2) Source-MY MOTHER TALKED WITH AN ARTISAN AT A LOCAL MELA WHERE HE WAS

History and process:

3) Source- ( CASE STUDY OF BANKURA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL )

Problems faced by artisans:

4) Source- Utkalika Odisha State Emporium, New Delhi

5) Source- https://www.arcjournals.org/pdfs/ijhcs/v1-i3/3.pdf (Article on Dhokra craft)

6) Source- http://ftp.gvtindia.org/yogini_handicraft ( NGO helping Dhokra Craft)

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