ORGANIZATION PROFILE

1.1 Name of Organization : Harappani Gorbanjara Mahila Kala Vikas Mandal, Pawar Wasti, (Bhavthana)

1.2 Address of Organization : a) Registered Address: Mrs. Champavati Sitaram Pawar, A/p Bhavthana (Pawar Wasti), Tq. Ambajogai, Dist. Beed, Pin Code: 431 517, (Maharashtra) India. Ph. No. +912446 - 257703, +919422742760

b) Contact Address : Mrs. Kanta Baliram Pawar, Raje Shivchatrapati Vyapari Sankul Nagar Parishad, Shop no. 13, Mondha Road, Ambajogai, Dist. Beed, Pin Code: 431517, (Maharashtra State) India. Ph. No and fax no. +912446-246645

1.3 Legal Status of Organization: Harappani Gorbanjara Mahila Kala Vikas Mandal is a grass root Voluntary organization.

Registered under Societies registration act of 1860 : (MAH /649/04/Beed)
Bombay public trust act of 1950 : (F-10643/Beed)
Pan No. AAATH6354A
Organization is in network with Beed District NGOs local network.
Organization is member of CNRI New Delhi.

1.4 Contact Person: Mrs. Kanta Baliram Pawar, Deputy President.

Organizational Background

a) Introduction: This organization is established taking in to consideration of empowerment of Banjara women through handicraft and various schemes of Govt. of same. Banjara community from maharashtra belongs to OBCs denotified nomadic tribes (DNT) as per the legal context. Having their own culture, values ethics, language, tradition and handicraft with typical colour combination and stitching pattern. Peoples call them as Banjara (Lamani, Sugali, Lambada, Labhan etc.) but themselves they call Gormati. Gormati tribe is a colorful and picturesque tribe of India. If survey the women of India from show capped Himalaya to the sun drenched Kanayakumari, you will not come across more gorgeously dressed or more profusely ornamented women than those of the widely scattered tribe of Gormati. This tribe scattered all over the world and identified by different names (Gypsy). In the past this community was identified as rich and with cultural and historical heritage prior to commencement of railway in India. To preserve this cultural heritage this organization is working by awareness camp, competition, exhibition and other activities which promotes and motivates the handicraft.

b) About Banjara Embroidary: The embroidary style is specific to the nomad community different states of India. Banjara embroidary (Fine needle work) is created by the women of the tribe using a variety of technique similar to other textile community like Balouch and other Asian tribes most every day objects were woven or embroidered by the tribes. Nomads in the past, the Banjaras today aggregate in groups seperately called Tanda. Staying in communes they still strive to preserve the fascinating and unpredictable traditions of their ancestors. Tattoed women with hands weighed down by ivory bangles create the memorable mirror work which the Banjaras are femous for. Banjara hand embroidary style of embroidary is the fact that it covers every inches of fabric with exuberant colours of rural India. This gorgeous and exquistic multihue tapestry in shabby rust tricrural colours has intricate and heavy Banjara hand embroidary embellished with tons of glittering applique mirrors. Prominent colors such as shades of russet, brown, chocklate, darkchocklate, burgundy, red, orange, pink, purple and green docorate this amazing piece of folk art. This art is an ancient art since from indus vally civilization. This art is coming from generation to generation from mother to dauther. The materical used were all hand spun, hand woven, and then embroided with simple straight needle. The material use were mostly cotton but also sheep and goat hair and occasionally silk. On Banjara textiles most patterns are either square or rectangular form. Numerous embroidary techniques can be observed in Banjara embroidary. Often up to 5 - 6 techniques can be seen on a single tapestry. The Banjaras were master weavers and created vibrant natural dye from plants and minerals. Banjara craft awakened the workd with its beauty finds a place in regular fashion today. Banjara women are in front of Indian fashion, breaking new ground with their exquisitely embroidered Ghagras (Phetia), Kanchali, Bridal veils, red Oxford blue and chocolated uppatas (lovadi/Chanttia/Pambadi). Embroidary is just way of life cloths have always provided the best example of Banjara bead craft work, what they however lacked was, professional guidance to package their work and market them. Their work and design of sophistication has a creative sense and each design has a specific meaning attached to it. Banjaras wearing are now in the fashion of treasure. The articles produced with Banjara embroidary has a big and hudge scope and demand even today in the market of the country and even in the golb.

c) History of Banjara Handicraft: Aboriginal tribal art is pride of nation. These arts are an ancient art since from indus vally civilization. This art is coming from generation to generation from mother to daughter. But due to globalization and civilization in 19th century there is change in living of society and all traditional living changed. This resulted in change of traditional costumes along with traditional handicraft among these traditional handicrafts Banjara hand embroidary is one of them. Now a day’s this banjara hand embroidary is declared as languishing art. To preserve this cultural historical heritage of art some NGOs are working. This art having cultural heritage from indus vally civilization. Excavation at Indus river and at Mohendaro found red colored embroidered cloth in silver plate, cotton thread, needles and red cloth found in two copper pots. Knife covered with red cloth (Barchir Kholi) found at Kalibangan, At Lothal seal found with punch mark of embroided cloth. Large terracotta pot of water covered with embroided cloth (Galno) found at Alamgirpur in excavation. Things found in excavation at various place are in use in Banjara community for traditional, cerimonial and practical now a days also. Banjara women uses only red color for embroidary and at ceremonial function they uses red cloths. Generally Banjara lady wears only red color costumes. The refrences found in Rigveda, Yejurveda, Atharvaveda and ancient literature about this art. Some motifs of indus civilization are found in Banjara community and their handicraft today also.

d) Present position of craft: Due to globalization, civilization and snatching of culture, Language, change of traditional costumes along with traditonal handivraft. From 1980 onwards traditional handicraft articles used by community for traditional, cerimonial and for daily use are sold by some peoples in international market. Market value of these articles is very high. The price of 10” x 15” embroided piece of cloth was about $95 (3800 Rs.) Snatching of these traditional handicraft articles of Banjara Tanda from all states of India and one more factor responsible for distruction of handicraft is in the changing scenario’s the rich craft art of dress embroidary and jewelry seems to be dissolving in the minds of new generation. Due to which this craft making lacking behind. Maharashtra having various traditional handicrafts Banjara hand embroidary is one of them. Now a day’s this banjara hand embroidary is declared as languishing art. To preserve these art Govt. of India assisted financially during eight plan to voluntary organization, apex co operative societies for survey, identification and revival of languishing craft. Under this scheme some languishing crafts are identified Banjara art is one of them. Funds are released for the revival of languishing Banjara embroidary.

Mrs. Champawati Sitaram Pawar, President, Harappani Gorbanjara Mahila Kala Vikas Mandal, with her husband Dr. Shriram Pawar (Binjrawat) and son.

e) Vision: HARAPPANI GORBANJARA MAHILA KALA VIKAS MANDAL, dreams about preservation and empowerment of Banjara women through handicraft of Banjara community as well as other handicraft in the state.

f) Mission: HARAPPANI GORBANJARA MAHILA KALA VIKAS MANDAL, believes in self reliance and performs the role of motivator and enabler as it is the universal truth that changes occur within the society and not from outside. Organization aims at building capacities of poor and needy people in general and youth women dilates and small and marginal farmers. HARAPPANI GORBANJARA MAHILA KALA VIKAS MANDAL actively helps and work for empowerment of women social, economically as well as empowerment of the poeple below poverty line by running income generation activities through handicrafts and various schemes. 

Posted on October 25, 2008---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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