Craftsmen make hay

Bijay Sankar Bora

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Tribune News Service

Nalbari (Assam), April 5

During the peak of poll campaigning when political bigwigs are making whirlwind tour of the state, a nondescript village of bamboo craftsmen and artists in Nalbari district, are making hay by selling exquisite traditional Assamese japi — a decorative headgear used to felicitate VIPs.

But for the craftsmen of greater Balamugkuchi area comprising six villages inhabited by Assamese Hindus, political parties could not have the pleasure of adorning leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah and Sonia Gandhi with the colourful Assamese japis.

“We have tremendous demand for japis made in our area throughout the year as it is required for all public functions, cultural celebrations, religious conclaves etc. The demand peaks during the celebration of Rongali Bihu around this time of the year. This time the demand has amplified because of the election being held just before Bihu,” said craftsman Dipak Kumar Baishya. He claims to have supplied the two mega-size japis worth Rs 9,000 each and a smaller one worth Rs 3,000 that were used to honour the PM when he visited here in February.