Minutes of the Meeting Of Explore the possibility of forming a "Weavers, Artisans and Performing Artists' Guild".(WAPAG)
Organizer Bangiya Paramparik Karu O Bastra Shilpi Sangha
With the help of Entrepreneur Club, IBS Business School
Organizer Bangiya Paramparik Karu O Bastra Shilpi Sangha
With the help of Entrepreneur Club, IBS Business School
Date of the Meeting: 7th November, 2015
Venue of the Meeting: JRD Tata Hall, IBS Business School, Kolkata
Timing: 12.30P.M-5.00 P.M
1) Dr. Dipankar Day expressed his views on changing mode of knowledge economy in his opening remarks. He said that the Sector-V, Salt Lake is considered as the IT hub of Bengal as almost all the major IT players, KPOs and BPOs are located in that particular region. But we are mainly depending on the borrowed knowledge because in majority of the cases, the outsourced jobs are done by these IT companies. Dr. Dey suggested that instead of emphasizing on Western knowledge, it is high time for us to focus on our own local knowledge which have been preached, professed and propagated by our ancestors for a long period of time in Bengal. He has also mentioned the time has to come to make proper documentation of local knowledge and skills of Bengal.
2) Dr. Dey also said that when we are buying any product from showroom, there is no mention about the name and address of original manufacturer. He also expressed his grievances against the exploitation which is happening to the rural manufacturer. We are buying the product from showroom by paying premium price but unfortunately rural manufacturers are receiving abysmally low price. The differential price is appropriated by the market intermediaries which are unethical as well as unjust practices from the perspective of distributive justice. He also emphasized that lack of primary data about grassroot level enreprenures do not help anybody to form clear understanding about this sector.
3) Mr. Biswendu Nanda mentioned that India has a rich source of culture and heritage. The calculus had been practiced in India from the ancient ages by farmers, wavers as well as captains of ships. As agriculture is largely dependent on monsoon, farmers used to measure the impact on agricultural production due to slight change in climate or rainfall. It is comparatively easy to drive a ship during the night because direction can be determined with the help of relative position of stars and luminaries in the sky. During the day time, depending on the movement of Sunrays, the direction of the ship was decided. He also mentioned in Takshashila University, Calculus is being taught within seven days without introducing the concept of Limit. He said time has come to create a guild like platform of these grassroot artisan, weavers and performing artists. And the platform needs to act as a pressure group to help the government as well as other organizations to form policies conducive to grassroot level entrepreneurship. He emphasized that hardly anyone hold credible primary data about these three sectors - and we do not simply know what are the conditions of these sectors today in West Bengal – what are the number of entrepreneurs, how the ecosyatem of production works etc. It is also a fact that the handicrafts sectors do not have a proper ministry. It is included in the micro-small-medium entrenureship ministry. But the investment cap of the micro-scale sector reaches about hundred crores, who care about those who are investing merely few lakhs, though they need special attention as they are the biggest employers in this country. The need of the hour is to fight the government policies at the street as well as with various organ of the government to protect the sector as the economy of the villages depends upon them as 80% of the people still living in villages – the nees of the hour is to strengthen the village economy. He also urged the faculties of the IBS to help the students to reach the unreached grassroot level and generate and analyze the data so that it can fight government and other sector with it. Among several issues discussed at length at the meeting, he raised the issue of self funding.
4) Mr.Haripada Basak, master weaver explained the background story of jacquard machine which is quite innovative in the field of waiving. The Jacquard loom is a mechanical loom invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard, first demonstrated in 1801, that simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles. He also said the culture and heritage of Bengal’s artisans and waivers cannot be protected by one single organization. Hence the guild should be formed to protect the interest of the several rural artisans and waivers so that their professional existence, knowledge and skill remain protected.
5) Various other participants of BPKBSS Manoj Hansda, Ganesh Rabidas, Kameswar Desi as well as Shefali Goyal, Nirendu Konar spoke the need to form the Guild.
6) Dr. Dey declared that an adhoc committee should be formed at the initial stage. The committee members will meet within one month latest by 12th December, 2015 where discussion will take place regarding the name, physical location of the office to be created, structure and funding policy of the proposed guild etc,. The members of the adhoc committee are Mr. Biswendu Nanda(Adhoc Secretary), Mr.Haripada Basak(Master Weaver), Mr. Madhumangal Malakar(Master Craftsperson), Khirodabala Roy(Weaver), Mr. Manoj Hasda(Performing Artist), Mr. Ganesh Rabi Das(Performing Artist), Santi Tudu(Performing Artist), Tapati Bhattachariya(Entreprenure), Soma Mukhopadhyay(Researcher), Mr. Ashis Das(Activist), Mr. Kameshwar Desi(Performing Artist), Prof Nirendu Konar (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata), Prof Uddipan Nath (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata), Prof Shefali Goyal (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata), Mr. Somnath Saha ( Student, IBS Kolkata) and Mr. Saunak Nath ( Student, IBS Kolkata).
7) The meeting ended with the vote of thanks given by Mr. Saunak Nath (Student, IBS Kolkata).
List of the members and their contact details
2) Dr. Dey also said that when we are buying any product from showroom, there is no mention about the name and address of original manufacturer. He also expressed his grievances against the exploitation which is happening to the rural manufacturer. We are buying the product from showroom by paying premium price but unfortunately rural manufacturers are receiving abysmally low price. The differential price is appropriated by the market intermediaries which are unethical as well as unjust practices from the perspective of distributive justice. He also emphasized that lack of primary data about grassroot level enreprenures do not help anybody to form clear understanding about this sector.
3) Mr. Biswendu Nanda mentioned that India has a rich source of culture and heritage. The calculus had been practiced in India from the ancient ages by farmers, wavers as well as captains of ships. As agriculture is largely dependent on monsoon, farmers used to measure the impact on agricultural production due to slight change in climate or rainfall. It is comparatively easy to drive a ship during the night because direction can be determined with the help of relative position of stars and luminaries in the sky. During the day time, depending on the movement of Sunrays, the direction of the ship was decided. He also mentioned in Takshashila University, Calculus is being taught within seven days without introducing the concept of Limit. He said time has come to create a guild like platform of these grassroot artisan, weavers and performing artists. And the platform needs to act as a pressure group to help the government as well as other organizations to form policies conducive to grassroot level entrepreneurship. He emphasized that hardly anyone hold credible primary data about these three sectors - and we do not simply know what are the conditions of these sectors today in West Bengal – what are the number of entrepreneurs, how the ecosyatem of production works etc. It is also a fact that the handicrafts sectors do not have a proper ministry. It is included in the micro-small-medium entrenureship ministry. But the investment cap of the micro-scale sector reaches about hundred crores, who care about those who are investing merely few lakhs, though they need special attention as they are the biggest employers in this country. The need of the hour is to fight the government policies at the street as well as with various organ of the government to protect the sector as the economy of the villages depends upon them as 80% of the people still living in villages – the nees of the hour is to strengthen the village economy. He also urged the faculties of the IBS to help the students to reach the unreached grassroot level and generate and analyze the data so that it can fight government and other sector with it. Among several issues discussed at length at the meeting, he raised the issue of self funding.
4) Mr.Haripada Basak, master weaver explained the background story of jacquard machine which is quite innovative in the field of waiving. The Jacquard loom is a mechanical loom invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard, first demonstrated in 1801, that simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles. He also said the culture and heritage of Bengal’s artisans and waivers cannot be protected by one single organization. Hence the guild should be formed to protect the interest of the several rural artisans and waivers so that their professional existence, knowledge and skill remain protected.
5) Various other participants of BPKBSS Manoj Hansda, Ganesh Rabidas, Kameswar Desi as well as Shefali Goyal, Nirendu Konar spoke the need to form the Guild.
6) Dr. Dey declared that an adhoc committee should be formed at the initial stage. The committee members will meet within one month latest by 12th December, 2015 where discussion will take place regarding the name, physical location of the office to be created, structure and funding policy of the proposed guild etc,. The members of the adhoc committee are Mr. Biswendu Nanda(Adhoc Secretary), Mr.Haripada Basak(Master Weaver), Mr. Madhumangal Malakar(Master Craftsperson), Khirodabala Roy(Weaver), Mr. Manoj Hasda(Performing Artist), Mr. Ganesh Rabi Das(Performing Artist), Santi Tudu(Performing Artist), Tapati Bhattachariya(Entreprenure), Soma Mukhopadhyay(Researcher), Mr. Ashis Das(Activist), Mr. Kameshwar Desi(Performing Artist), Prof Nirendu Konar (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata), Prof Uddipan Nath (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata), Prof Shefali Goyal (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata), Mr. Somnath Saha ( Student, IBS Kolkata) and Mr. Saunak Nath ( Student, IBS Kolkata).
7) The meeting ended with the vote of thanks given by Mr. Saunak Nath (Student, IBS Kolkata).
List of the members and their contact details
Name of the Member Mobile number Email id
Mr. Biswendu Nanda ( Adhoc Secretary) 08335014808, 09475213788 biswendu@yahoo.com
Mr. Biswendu Nanda ( Adhoc Secretary) 08335014808, 09475213788 biswendu@yahoo.com
Mr.Haripada Basak
Mr. Madhumangal Malakar 9593405079
Khirodabala Roy 9547722243
Mr. Manoj Hasda
Mr. Ganesh Rabi Das 9635370656
Santi Tudu
Tapati Bhattachariya 98305368878 tapati_05@rediffmail.com
Mr. Madhumangal Malakar 9593405079
Khirodabala Roy 9547722243
Mr. Manoj Hasda
Mr. Ganesh Rabi Das 9635370656
Santi Tudu
Tapati Bhattachariya 98305368878 tapati_05@rediffmail.com
Soma Mukhopadhyay mukhopadhyaysoma12@gmail.com
Mr. Ashis Das 9830493239 ashisec@gmail.com
Mr. Kameshwar Desi
Prof Nirendu Konar (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata) 9836400572 nirendu.konar@ibsindia.org
Prof Nirendu Konar (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata) 9836400572 nirendu.konar@ibsindia.org
Prof Uddipan Nath (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata) 9830640744 udnath@ibsindia.org
Prof Shefali Goyal (Faculty Member, IBS Kolkata) 9836222929 shefali.goyal@ibsindia.org
Mr. Somenath Saha ( Student, IBS Kolkata) 9163166165 somenath.saha15@ibsindia.org
Mr. Saunak Nath ( Student, IBS Kolkata) 9163267833 saunak.nath15@ibsindia.org
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