The RaGa saga

     Is there such a paucity of talent or intelligence in our population that we are so eager to foist the crown on a reluctant prince just because he has a certain lineage? Is pedigree, heredity or ancestry vital to lead a nation or a political party?

     Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. However, in this context, the probable wearer fled the scene well before the coronation.

    

     Our fixation for a name or dynasty is legendary. Exceptional genes are entitled to extraordinary privileges in our country. You could be absconding from your chair for two months and continue introspecting or meditating (chintan-manan in native parlance) in undisclosed locations or you could be pondering over strategies to stage a comeback. Deciding the duration of your clandestine vacation is your birthright.

     You could be flying kites in Laos, windsurfing in the Pacific, chasing butterflies in Peru or fishing in Myanmar.You could still return and find your seat unoccupied, get a hero’s welcome for re-surfacing after a mysterious sabbatical and even have your cohorts celebrating with firecrackers and laddus. An elevation to a higher job, is the coveted trophy for making a stealthy exit and a furtive homecoming. Your outstanding genes bequeathed to you by your illustrious forefathers ensure that you are unaccountable to the voters, even if you choose to play truant. 

     If you are work-weary or bored of playing hide and seek, you could dabble in theatrics and tear up drafts of ordinances, assert that poverty is a state of mind, recommend 12 subsidized gas cylinders for the great Indian housewife, tell industrialists that your nation is a beehive, or make a gallant speech in Parliament about Kalavathi and other impoverished villagers in Vidarbha and forget about their anguish soon after.

     You could also make an offhand remark about India being a computer where your political party is the default program or seek refuge in astronomy by proclaiming that Dalits need the escape velocity of Jupiter to achieve success.. You could ramble incoherently, look forlorn, confused or bewildered and still have a mammoth fan following, worthy of a rockstar.

    Three cheers to the young scion for pulling off a vanishing act with such elan, he could give PC Sorcar a run for his magical money. 

    

      

BAGRU - The textile hub

     Living in Bangalore, the "Silicon valley" of India, it is hard to imagine that, hundreds of miles away, nestling in the plains of interior Rajasthan, there is a small dusty, fascinating hamlet, Bagru, from where some of India’s finest textiles are churned out, using wholly native methods of dyeing, printing and processing.

     In the present day and age of high tech and digitized printing techniques, the practice of using vegetable dyes for dyeing and printing sounds outmoded.  But thanks to the efforts of the Chhippa community that has perfected the skill over the last three hundred years, the art is vibrantly alive and the town of Bagru bustles with activity.

     Jaitex art is a leading  manufacturer of hand block printed fabrics in Bagru. The employees at the factory are highly dexterous craftsmen  from the surrounding villages.Their unswerving loyalty and dedication to the profession is commendable. They create a stunning range of fabrics dyed in alluring earth tones, printed with ethnic images and motifs.

      I attended a one-day hand block printing workshop in their factory, organized at very short notice at the behest of Shri.Udit Sethia. Despite his busy schedule, he made every effort to make it an unforgettable experience for me.

     The workshop was as educative as it was awe-inspiring. The participants are permitted the use of wooden blocks and colours of their choice on fabric provided by the factory. At the end of an extensive procedure of washing, drying, printing and boiling, using natural, and eco-friendly herbal extracts, the result was a yard of fabric that had transformed like sheer magic.

                                                           The beautiful people 

    

     I was captivated by the humility, simplicity and courtesy shown by every member of the staff during my short stay at the factory. Mr. Ratan and Mr. Lala are two committed employees, whose professional expertise is an asset to the unit.

     Rajasthan is a key destination on India’s tourist map and Bagru is a powerhouse of textiles. The workshop promotes tourism in a novel way by showcasing a traditional art form.

     Shri.Udit Sethia and Shri.Hemant Sethia are genuine ambassadors who have made a conscientious effort to preserve and perpetuate an ancient craft.