The characters of some stories are so influential that as soon as they are mentioned, we start looking at the real picture through the same imagination. One such role is that of Kaleen Bhaiya from the OTT series Mirzapur. Pankaj Tripathi’s strong acting has created such an image of this city of UP and Kaleen that now perhaps the real picture of this city appears blurred in it. But the truth is that no matter how thrilling the stories are, their shine always fades from reality.
One thing is clear after watching the series that business is big for both Mirzapur and Kaleen Bhaiya. But after watching the series and the real Mirzapur, it is known that in the olden days Mirzapur did not have the business of guns and drugs but the carpet business was the identity of this city. In fact, the Mirzapur-Bhadohi belt of Uttar Pradesh was once part of Asia’s largest carpet-producing region. Most of the intricately woven products were exported to America and Europe.
Not Bhaiya, but ‘Kaaleen’ has always been the identity of Mirzapur
Former journalist Rajendra Srivastava, a resident of Mirzapur, told Aaj Tak that Bhadohi and Mirzapur have been the centers of carpet weaving for a long time. There was a carpet weaving system in every locality of both the cities. Recalling his experience of 50 years ago, he tells that a large number of people were employed by these small carpet weaving units. But gradually the picture changed.
Related news
- Is it a jail or an inn, Baba was outside for 255 days in 7 years, Story of Ram Rahim’s ‘freedom’
- Did the crowd enter the crime scene in Kolkata hospital? Police clarified
- My reputation is not more important than the nation, the fight against corruption will continue, said PM Modi
- Multibagger Stock: These 5 stocks turned out to be amazing… made you rich in just one year, this was the price on last 15th August
- What is Green Hydrogen,PM Modi wants India to become its hub?
He says that the once strong carpet industry of Uttar Pradesh is now in shambles. Many factors including machine-made carpets, ban on child labour, global economic slowdown and migration of artisans have dealt it a big blow. But still some carpet ‘brothers’ of Mirzapur are struggling to continue the centuries-old tradition woven into the fabric of society.
The history of carpet is very old
According to local legends, the carpet industry in Mirzapur and Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh has its roots in the 16th century during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar. Many say that a group of Persian carpet weavers, who were on their way to the Mughal court, were attacked by dacoits. But after being rescued and sheltered by local villagers, the weavers made the region their home. This was the time when Iran was a major hub for handmade carpets. Carpet weaving in Persia (modern-day Iran) dates back to around 500 BC.
People say that Persian artisans taught the people here the intricacies of weaving. This led to the beginning of the carpet industry of Mirzapur-Bhadohi, which later spread to many nearby districts of Uttar Pradesh – Varanasi, Ghazipur, Sonbhadra, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jaunpur and Chandauli.
This story is also famous
Kundan Arya, a Bhadohi-based carpet maker, refutes this narrative of the industry in Uttar Pradesh. Arya told Aaj Tak that the industry gained ground in the town when a British woman brought weavers from Persia in 1899 and the first formal factory called E Hill & Co was opened in Khamaria in Mirzapur. Arya says the Persian weavers taught the art to locals who were already involved in metal carving.
Business flourished in the 19th century
In the beginning of the 19th century, the carpet business grew significantly. Especially after the revolt of 1857, when many weavers from Agra and Delhi turned to the peaceful Mirzapur, the carpet business here became stronger. Gradually it became the largest carpet producing area in Asia. Experts say that Mirzapur had all the ingredients to become a major center of the carpet industry. There was affordable and skilled labor here. This area was located between Delhi-Calcutta and Allahabad. By the beginning of the 20th century, the carpet industry of Mirzapur-Bhadohi had reached its golden age.
Nuances kept getting transferred across generations
Vikram Chandra Jain of Mirzapur says that the knowledge and skill of carpet making has been transferred from one generation to the other. He says that even today in the gloomy times, there are more than 400 manufacturing units in and around Bhadohi and Gopiganj (a municipality in Bhadohi district).
Why did the shine of the carpet brothers of Bhadohi, Mirzapur fade?
The decline of Mirzapur’s carpet industry was not sudden but gradual. There were not one but several reasons that played a role in shaking the dominance of the carpet makers of the region. Vikram Chandra Jain, director of Village Weavers, says, ‘Forty years ago, there used to be at least 25,000 houses in Mirzapur that had looms. But when several reports of child labour came out, it hurt the business a lot.
Vikram says that the demand for hand-woven carpets has also reduced in India. Carpet brothers now have to depend on foreign customers. At the same time, this industry has also suffered a setback due to the government’s neglect. Vikram Chandra Jain says, before Covid, there were about 10,000 weavers in Mirzapur. Now only about 800 are left. He says that many skilled artisans have left this business. Many weavers feel that there is no profit in this business now. They have found employment opportunities in MNREGA and others.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)