Rajasansi carpet industry on brink of extinction
In the quaint town of Rajasansi, a once-thriving carpet industry, lies in a shambles, a victim of government apathy and neglect. Just a few decades ago, this town and its surrounding villages were renowned for producing exquisite, hand-knotted carpets that adorned the floors of European and Russian homes. The industry’s heyday saw 1.5 lakh square feet of carpet exported to European countries every month, until 1995.
Rajasansi was famous for its hand-knotted carpets long before it became known for its international airport. The art of hand-knotted carpets in the Bukhara style was introduced to Rajasansi by Muslim artisan Ahmed Butt in 1940. For seven years, Butt zealously guarded the secrets of his craft, sharing them only with a select few.
Even after partition, when Butt left, carpet weaving remained a closely guarded secret, with artisans sharing techniques only within close family connections. However, as demand grew, they began teaching the art to their neighbours. By 1965, over 250 families in Rajasansi and surrounding villages were involved in the trade.
“The industry’s fortunes began to decline when middlemen prioritised profits over quality. Weavers were forced to produce lower-quality carpets, which led foreign buyers to shift their business to Gwalior and Agra,” said Jagjit Singh, an artisan who has since left the trade.
The Russians, once major buyers, defaulted on payments, delivering another blow to the industry.
Today, only one ‘karkhana’ with seven ‘khadis’ remains, and a few artisans still weave carpets at their homes. Rajasansi may soon be devoid of its skilled carpet weavers. Ashok, a 55-year-old artisan, explained, “Presently, only those who are too old to shift to other work are still weaving carpets.” Ashok himself has been unable to change professions due to a leg affected by polio.
Mangal Singh, another craftsman, lamented that it takes two skilled weavers working 12 hours a day for a month to produce a 56 square foot carpet (9 feet by 6 feet), yet they earn only about Rs 300 per day. He added that customers do not have direct access to the weavers, and they lack resources to market their carpets in wealthier cities. The weavers believe that if the industry is organised and they are provided with better wages, the sector can be revived. They urge the government to support their participation in handicraft fairs, allowing them to connect with a broader audience of potential buyers. As the carpet industry in Rajasansi struggles to survive, its artisans hold onto hope that their legacy will be revived, and their hand-knotted carpets will once again grace homes around the world.
