Traditional thread makers staring at bleak future
Jammu: Facing tough competition from the Chinese plastic thread commonly used for kite flying, the traditional thread weavers are finding it difficult to meet both ends.
I will never teach this to my kids says Laxman, a traditional manja maker (kite strings) who have been into this vocation for the last three decades. Laxman is in his mid-50s, is from just a handful of manja makers who are continuing with the vocation, which has fallen out of favor and appears to be set for its final days.
“I have been into the vocation for last three decades, and I have seen both the up and downs of the manja-making business. My father has taught me this skill so that I can learn my livelihood but with the advancement of technology, Chinese strings like Gattu has replaced the traditional manja. I believe after few years you won’t find anyone doing this activity of manja making anymore. It will be replaced by machine made threads which will be sold in the market.” He spoke.
There are many craftsmen like Laxman who are at the verge of quitting this vocation because of low income in this profession. The main reason behind this condition is the arrival of Chinese String commonly known as “Gattu” or plastic manja. The key features that attract people to purchase this plastic string is its durability and low cost, but it has many ill effects too, like hundreds of people around the nation have faced serious injuries with this plastic manja and also killing thousands of birds every year.
He attributes the fall in business to ‘Chinese manja’, popular as “gattu”, that have been flooding the market. “Officials are raiding local shops and seizing Chinese manja. But traders somehow smuggle and sell it,” Laxman complained. Facing lots of troubles, Laxman and his colleagues are thinking to quit this vocation and start labouring to earn livelihood for their family.
Updated On 7/28/2021 1:52:37 PM