Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A few women artisans in the city are working on zari-zardozi to preserve the heritage of Bhopal. Some of them learnt it from their ancestors, others during Covid lockdown. They have trained many women to make them financially independent. The state government has declared zari-zardozi and jute art works under One District One Product (ODOP) initiative in 2020. Free Press talked to artisans who have displayed their works at ongoing exhibition, Gandhi Shilp Bazar 2023, organised by Union textiles ministry at Bhopal Haat. Excerpts:
Trained others
Huma Khan: I have trained nearly 18,000 women in it. I saw my mother doing it. When I was in class 8, I used to make it on a piece of cloth and hand fan. At that time, it was my passion. I didn’t decide that I will make a career in it. But lot of women whom I trained became self-reliant, which gave me satisfaction. Those women used to work in houses as domestic help. I got a state award in 2006.
Formed group
Sneha Agrawal: I belong to family of armymen and I live in Bhopal with my in-laws. I work as HR in a private firm now. I learnt zari-zardozi work from my house help Aapa during lockdown. It attracted me. I registered a group, Vastra, to promote art. At present, 17 underprivileged women of slum areas are associated with the group. I spend 75% of my salary on it. I get satisfaction from seeing happy faces of women who were hand-to-mouth during lockdown. Now, they are earning.
Ancesral work
Yasmin Khan: It is my ancestral work. My grandmother and mother used to do artwork. I also had interest in it but didn’t decide to make a career. I used to work in a bank in Dubai. But my father met with an accident then I decided to take forward the family’s legacy. I took formal training in it. Now, I have imparted training to 300-400 women. The artwork is generally used in party wears. But we are planning to associate it with interior design so that its reach enhances and artisans can get work round the year.
‘Hobby becomes necessity'
Firoz Jehan: I have been doing Zari-zardozi work for more than 20 years. None in my family is associated with it. My father was a government servant and mother a homemaker. I have done an MA in Sociology. I learnt the artwork from one of my neighbours whom we would call ‘Masi’. She was very poor. I would visit her home after school and help her finish her zari'zardozi work so that she might earn more money. I would get a dressing-down from my father for visiting her home, but that didn't stop me. I gradually started taking interest in the art. Initially, it was my hobby, but, after the death of my parents and one of my brothers in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, it became a necessity. I had to take care of my family members, including one sister and four brothers and their children. This is the reason that I didn't marry. I took some training to improve my skills in the art. I started working with some NGOS. Afterwards , I set up an organisation. I have been imparting training to women at Gandhi Bhawan free of cost to make them financially independent. The number of women I have, so far, trained is around 12,000. Now, my family members, including my younger sister Afroz, sisters-in-law and their children help me in my work. This is how we are earning our bread and butter through this art as well as keeping the heritage of Bhopal alive.
