Historically, the social role of women has been restricted to the four walls of a house. Tending to the needs of the family members, their food and nutrition and keeping the family together, were the only roles women were expected to fulfill. But when one takes a closer look into the life of tribal women, these responsibilities are appended to the additional responsibilities of assisting the men in the house to earn a livelihood for the family.
In the urban Indian context, it is true that we can today see ‘progressive women’ leaving a mark in every field that was once restricted to their male counterparts. They have been able to take a stand for their rights and have shattered the barriers that once prevented them from reaching their full potential.
Even though the noise of progress has not been as loud in tribal areas, one will definitely get to see glimpses of modernity, independence and creativity among tribal women in the present day. While men have been ruling the roost in most of the tribes, the foundational role of women in Dhokra art-practicing tribes like the Gonds and the Jharas, needs to be told to the world, loud and clear.
Role of Dhokra Women in Everyday Life
The economic plight of Dhokra tribals is not the very best. Dhokra families are found in clusters in different tribal belts of India with entire villages dedicated to the art. Due to the lack of proper resources for education and employment and an inherent love for their art, passed down from generations, one will find complete families dedicated to the creation of dhokra handcrafted products.
In the common day to day life, the men are found to be engrossed in the creation of Dhokra products right from the scratch. The household work and management of daily life is the domain of the women. Their basic chores include cooking, cleaning and other common household errands. The concept of education is more of a privilege in these tribal belts. Thus, children (both boys and girls) are trained in the creation of Dhokra art from a young age.
Dhokra Women and the Art
Dhokra women take an active part in the production process because the creation of Dhokra art is complex and time taking. It is the same reason why families are found working as units. Different steps are commonly divided among the family members, with men taking up most of the laborious work upon themselves. Raw materials are generally gathered from local sources, hence it is a common task shared between both the genders of the family. Heavy work such as gathering scrap metal, working in the furnaces to melt it and giving shape to it with the mould are activities limited to men.
Women engage themselves in preliminary preparations and creative activities. According to accounts of those who travel to quaint Dhokra villages, women are commonly seen laying the patterns on clay tablets and wrapping slender ribbons of beeswax around the mould for giving intricate designs to the final product. Thus, minute and painstaking details of Dhokra handicrafts, which make every piece unique and different, must be attributed to the creativity and delicate work done by the women.
Meet the Award-winning Dhokra- crafts women
Dhokra art has received immense national and international acknowledgement but it is heartbreaking to see not many female Dhokra artists being recognised for their creative endeavours. Very few women are recognised for independently creating exemplary pieces of the art at the national or state level. Let’s get to know two such extraordinary but humble, award-winning female dhokra artists -
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Smt. Dhanmati Jhara - Smt. Dhanmati Jhara hails from Kanaktora village near the Chhattisgarh border and has been practicing the craft from her maiden years. In 2003, she received the National Award for her innovative representation of Dhokra craft. She was also the first ever female from her village to receive national recognition. The female crafter however, believes that accolades are of no value when it cannot change the plight of their unbearable daily challenges and poor economic conditions.
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Smt. Budhiarin Devi - A National and State-level award winner, Smt. Budhiarin Devi is a resident of the famous Ektal village of Chhattisgarh, known for supreme Dhokra craft production. She received a National Award for her creation named ‘Chandri Mata ka Rath’ from the Hast Shilip Vikas Board. She has showcased her art in various Indian cities including Surajkund at Haryana, Bangalore, Shimla, etc. In fact her creative endeavours have taken her to international craft melas as well.
Representation of Women in Dhokra Products
In a large variety of handicrafts created by these artisans, one can certainly find female representation in Dhokra home decor and utility products. Statues of female deities and characters from folklore like Mitki (along with her sacrificed lover Jhitku) have comprised the initial depiction of women in Dhokra handicrafts. While statues of mother and child and traditional female dancers are a historical representation of women’s roles, contemporary figures include those of Dhokra women reading or relaxing. Additionally, the exquisite collection of heavenly Dhokra jewellery is exactly what every modern woman looks for, in her personal collection.
This Women’s Day, surprise the woman who has impacted your life and inspires you every single day, whether it is your mother, sister, teacher, wife or anyone you look up to. Gift her a piece of the heritage from the diverse collection of www.dhokrahandicrafts.com, that adds meaning to her life and gives a boost to her visions!
Saransh Gupta is a copy and content writer. She is focused and organised, with a penchant for being punctual, no matter how tight the deadlines are. Occasionally, she finds time to teach tiny tots and shape young minds. For leisure, she binge-watches different series on OTT platforms and falls in love with fictional characters. A foodie at heart, poetry flows from her soul and through the ink and she dreams to create an impact on the world with her words.
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