An Overview Of Surat Zari Craft
Surat very fondly boast about the locha, khaman, diamond, and textile in Surat, but what they do not know is that the Surat Zari craft accorded with Geographical Indication (GI) reputation. Granting of such GI status to the zari craft of Surat, might obstruct others from replicating the paintings. This zari craft of Surat district is one among its oldest industries, and may be very a lot linked with the price fluctuations in gold and silver, which are used to put together it.Art of zari making was prevalent in India since ancient times.The Ramayana, Mahabharata, Rigveda, etc mentioned about Zari craft.Megasthenes has also mentioned about the jari kasab thread craft in third century B.C. Zari industry florished during Muslim rule in India. Surat port was important for Haj pilgrims.The pilgrims use to stay in Surat for long prior to sail Mecca and spend lavishly on handicrafts.During 16th century zari further florished due to patronage of Moguls.During Moghuls zari was also exported to middle east. In 1614, British- East India Company came to Surat for exporting zari and related products to Middle-east and European Countries.“Birdwood” in his book “ The Industrial Art of India” (1880) mentioned Delhi and Lahore and Surat as thriving centre of Zari industry.Zari Inquiry Committee Report, 1957 has also mentioned about the importance of industry in the report.
‘Zari’ is a kind of yarn prepared by using delicate gold or silver wires which are used in conventional Indian and Pakistani apparels. This yarn is then interlaced mainly into silk fabrics to create complex designs. Zari producers from China and some from within the country were dumping fake Jari kasab in Indian markets. This is when the Textile Committee of FICCI and the Surat ‘Zari’ industry felt it necessary to safeguard original zari from encroachment, by way of getting it identified as a unique product under the Geographical Indications Act, and thus filed an application for getting GI status for it in 2009. Surat’s zari industry should, at present, consider expanding its manufacturing activities and upgrading the technology, while working for the betterment of the product quality. As GI guarantees a collective right to the Surat’s ‘Zari’ community which is lead by the Rana community, this is seen to greatly advantage the ‘Zari’ craft which dates back to almost 16th century, and the craftsmen by assisting them to earn their livelihood. As revealed by a data, Surat alone houses over 500 composite or semi-composite zari producing units, together with some 3,000 small household units involved in manufacturing real, imitation and plastic zari.read more
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