When was the last time you held something that truly felt human-flawed, soulful, and full of meaning?
In an age overrun by automation and algorithm, there exists a quiet, ancient rhythm-beating gently through the hands of tribal artisans in Odisha. Their tools are humble. Their studio? The soil. Their creations? Echoes of a civilisation older than time itself.
Tucked away in the serene village of Sadeibereni, in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, the Ghantara tribe has carried forward a legacy not etched in textbooks but forged in wax, clay, and fire. This is the world of Dhokra-a metal casting tradition that embraces imperfection as identity and craftsmanship as memory.
But pause for a moment. Have you ever wondered who actually makes the artefacts you admire in gallery corners or boutique shelves? Have you ever looked beyond the label?
Who Are the Makers?
The Dhokra artisans of Odisha are more than creators-they are living archives. Their wisdom isn’t taught in classrooms but passed down through lullabies, myths, and the meditative motion of seasoned fingers.
Their age-old process, the lost wax technique, predates even the Indus Valley civilisation. A clay core is shaped, layered with beeswax, covered with more clay, and then fired to let the wax drain. Into the hollow, molten metal flows. Once the shell is cracked open, what remains is more than a sculpture-it is a moment of life, frozen in bronze.
Watch them work:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpr4RZ1HFbc&t=111s
Their silence speaks volumes. Their pride gleams brighter than the brass they shape.
Why This Craft Matters Now More Than Ever
In a world churning out carbon copies by machine, what place does a slow, deliberate, handcrafted art like Dhokra have?
The answer is simple: a vital one.
Each Dhokra artefact is one of one-imbued with emotion, forged from local elements, and shaped by stories. It’s sustainable, soulful, and stunning. More than decor, it’s dialogue.
But does the buyer see the artisan behind the art?
Do we, as a society, value the human in handmade?
The Struggles Beneath the Shine
Creating a single piece can take weeks, but what an artisan earns is often only a fraction of its worth.
And why? Middlemen.
Many of these craftsmen, with limited digital access, are dependent on intermediaries who strip away value-both financial and moral. The result? Disheartened youth, rising material costs, and an art form gasping for relevance in a market skewed by volume over value.
A raw visual insight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya36mK58zHQ&t=137s
Their labour deserves more than applause—it deserves action.
Preserving the Pulse: A Shared Responsibility
So, what can be done?
Should art this ancient be left to fade quietly?
Or should we find ways to weave it into the present?
Corporates can choose Dhokra not just for gifting, but as a symbol of conscious commerce. Hotels can showcase these pieces as not just décor, but conversation. Creative agencies can place craftsmanship at the heart of cultural storytelling.
Governments must move from tokenism to tangible impact-building local hubs, enabling digital tools, and removing predatory middlemen.
One such example is https://www.dhokrahandicrafts.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqoocPRDqw-xDUmhTfYvsOISLY48s5ak5alwPrlX0D31b4IDORW- an online platform that connects artisans directly to the global market. Not only does it ensure fair trade, it also upholds authenticity, allowing buyers to invest in real stories, not mass-produced replicas. It’s proof that tradition and technology can co-exist without diluting soul.
Holding On to What Makes Us Human
As artificial intelligence grows louder, should we not hold tighter to what is deeply human?
These artisans don’t just craft-they carry. They carry ancestral knowledge, rooted resilience, and the rare ability to turn metal into meaning. Their legacy is not something to preserve in museums. It must be lived, supported, and seen.
Because maybe, just maybe, a single sculpture won’t change a village.
But collective intention? That can shape history.
So next time your fingers trace the grooves of a Dhokra figure, pause.
Ask: Who made this?
Feel: its weight, its warmth, its whisper.
Let this not end with a scroll.
Let it begin with support.
