Integrating Handicraft with Education

A four days workshop organised by Gandhi Smriti & Darshan samiti, New Delhi and Nai Talim Samiti, Sewagram, wardha in collaboration with Majhihira National Basic Educational Institute, Purulia district of West Bengal, from 16th to 19th January 2015.

Objective: The father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi had said ‘By education I means an all round drawing out of the best in child and man -body, mind and spirit. Literacy is not the end of the education nor even the beginning. It is only one of the means whereby man and woman can be educated. Literacy in itself is no education. I would therefore being a child’s education by teaching it a useful handicraft and enabling it to produce from the moment it begins its training. I hold that highest development of the mind and soul is possible under such education. Only every handicraft has to be taught not merely mechanically as it is done today but significantly, i.e. the child should know why and wherefore of every process.’ (Harijan, 31-7-37.)
The proposal of the mahatma that “the child should know why and wherefore of every process” is of utmost importance. As it is today, all eminent educationalists agree that this approach is nothing but building up scientific temperament in children. Unfortunately, we still look down upon local handicraft to be a part of our education system. This may be due to the fact that we look down upon manual labour as well as anything from villages do not measure up to modern day’s outlook. Ironically, the teaching of art and handicraft without scientific approach are found to be quite popular as hobbies in several urban areas.

This workshop proposed to examine this proposal of Gandhiji. The local handicrafts to be studied, in addition to the spinning, includes pottery, bamboo craft, wood work, palm leaves craft, craft using local grass etc. The proposal is not merely for scientific temperament but also for a greater cause as the father of nation had himself put it: “My plan to impart Primary Education through the medium of village handicraft like spinning and carding etc is thus conceived as the spread head of a silent social revolution fraught with the most far-reaching consequences. It will provide a healthy and moral basis of relationship between the city and the village and thus go a way towards eradicating some of the worst evils of the present social insecurity and poisoned relationship between the classes,” (Harijan, 9-10-37.)

Thus the participants of the workshop studied the all these above mentioned aspects during the workshop and prepared modules with concept mapping suitable for introduction in our current syllabi at various levels. Local artisans practicing the craft were invited in the workshop. They demonstrated their skills and products and gave the participants a “hands on” experience on the same.

The workshop aims at bringing local expertise into focus of education process being followed today. The participants worked in groups of 10 the grouped was formed by combining members from different regions and institutions. They interacted with the local artisans and documented their traditional knowledge in terms of modern science & technology. Around 64 participants from West Bengal, Gujarat, Assam, Maharashtra, Utter Pradesh, Jharkhand participated enthusiastically, and presented their paper in particular groups

The documents prepared in following line:
1. Name of handicraft
2. Raw material used. All possible details (Source, properties etc) of the materials
3. Tools used with detailed specification, uses etc.
4. Manufacturing process in chronological order, including time for complete process.
5. Documentation with specific mention of scientific principles (Physics, chemistry, biology & mathematics)
6. And social science aspects (geographical location and its specialities, community engaged in the trade, commercial effectiveness etc.)
7. Utility of the product.
8. Market values11. Different process with the specific level at which the subject will be taught.
9. Manual for teachers for modules
10. The pedagogy

The chosen handicraft were
Pottery- water pots, worship paraphernalia etc
Blacksmith- spoon, Bengals, rings, different tools

Carpenter- study table, chair
Bamboo work- basket, making,
Date & palm leave products- hand fan, broom, hat, hand bags, various containers etc
Boutique work- bed sheet design and dye

Different Participants:
Local craftsmen from Majhihira village,
School students of Majhihira National Basic Educational Institute
School teachers of MNBEI and other schools
Educationalist from various universities & Colleges
Scientists and researcher from various national institutes.

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