By: SWASTIKA MUKHERJEE
Kantha work is a traditional form of hand embroidery from rural, undivided Bengal, particularly practiced by women. Kantha workers used to do this embroidery during their leisure time for a very nominal wage. This craft remains very popular in the rural areas of West Bengal and has the potential to enter the international market. However, despite the quality of their work, these artisans have not received the recognition or compensation they deserve. The present research aims to identify the various reasons for the decline of this skilled indigenous art form. Based on fieldwork in rural Birbhum district, West Bengal, India, among women Kantha stitch workers, my attempt will be to develop strategies for policy enhancement to support the development of this cultural process, defined by the interaction of tangible and intangible elements within the broader class of cultural phenomena. Additionally, the goal is to raise the income levels of these artisans to make the craft more productive. Kantha stitch forms an essential part of cultural heritage, and its use as a tool for development is likely to highlight the processes and principles necessary for its internal transformation and growth.
