NALBARI, Jan 23 ? The internationally acclaimed traditional Japi which is considered a most beautiful item made of bamboo, although has been bearing the self-identity of the Assamese people in the national and international level, this craft has been gasping for breath due to lack of government patronage.
However, the fondness of the people for the Japi craft mostly located in the Nalbari district remains unchanged. The Japi was traditionally used as headgear but with time it found itself as an item of interior decoration for its unparalleled aesthetic appeal. No stage or cultural function, wall of government offices or drawing room of an average Assamese family is complete without this ubiquitous bamboo handicraft. It is identified with the very ethos of Assamese tradition but lack of adequate government patronage in marketing the Jai has created hurdles for craftsmen producing these works of sheer beauty.
We find two kinds of Japis and Nalbari has its own tradition in crafting both the kinds. One Halowa Japi is used by the farmers in paddy fields and another Phulam Japi is used as a decorative item. The farmers and other labourers use the Halowa Japi to protect themselves from the sunlight and rain. Formerly, the craftsmen made a special kind of Japi for the use of farmers which was called Pitha Japi. Now, we no longer find this type of Pitha Japi. In the present market there is a lot of demand for only the Halowa and Phulam Japi.
Despite its all-round appeal, all is not well with the 400 families of six villages Tilana, Balilecha, Bala-Mugkuchi, Sutarkuchi, Terechia and Japarkuchi of Nalbari district, the centre of Japi making. The craftsmen are striving hard to eke out a living from this trade. ?Generation after generation have been engaged in Japi making but the government has failed to provide patronage which is essential for survival of this art form says Bipin Baishya a craftsman of Bala-Mugkuchi village who has been practising the craft for the last fifteen years. A promising craftsman Baishya said that the business of Japi is seasonal and the season of Halowa Japi begins from March to June while the demand for Phulam Japi generally picks up during the Rongali Bihu. During the Rongali Bihu all the bihutalis of the State are decorated with the Phulam Japi.
Baishya who sells Japis from door to door in upper Assam revealed,? though the Phulam Japi has more demand in Sivasagar district, our parties even sell it outside the State, like in Arunahcal Pradesh, Shillong. Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi among others. Baishya also took part in a national handicrafts exhibition held at Kolkata where his works were highly acclaimed by the Kolkata people. It may be mentioned that financial condition of the artistes of the Japi craft of the district is precarious. A senior artiste of Japi craft Chandi Kalita (65) of Sutarkuchi village said, we purchase our daily needs from the local grocery shop depositing our daily production at a very low price as we are not in a position to stock them due to the financial crisis. Kalita further lamented that the artistes have been deprived of getting a remunerative price for the labour.
This is the fate of most of the families who are involved in this profession. Due to lack of local marketing facilities the craftsmen are being exploited by the middleman. While talking to The Assam Tribune the general manager of District Industrial and Commercial Centre (DICC) Kamal Choudhury admitted that the DICC, Nalbari has not taken any remarkable step for the development of cane and bamboo craft which included the traditional Japi making. The DICC, although providing PMRY loan every year to the youth they have been giving no preference to this traditional sector. He said, ?The DICC has no direct finance system and the banks are not interested to provide loan to these craftsmen as their economic condition is not better. When asked the general manager further said that we are not taking any steps to impart training to the artiste of Japi crafts due to acute financial crunch of the department.?
A major supplier of Japi to the State handicraft emporium of Guwahati, Biren Baishya has requested the Government to set up business centres in each district, especially in the Nalbari district where they can easily sell their products at a remunerative price. People here feel that the Government should take some ambitious schemes to develope the traditional craft. With the introduction of modern methods of production and marketing, there is no reason why this unique traditional craft of Assam can not gain popularity all over the country.