Handicrafts in Mahabs

Handicrafts in Mahabs

Few days back, I visited Mahabalipuram. I was amazed by the presence of a fully fledged Handicrafts and Artefacts market . After my interaction with few shop owners, I came to know that this market is divided into 2 segments. First is managed by local population and the second is managed by the Kashmiri people there. The Kashmiris visit Mahabalipuram regularly in seasons to do business here.

After enquiring, I found out that the local businessmen and the Kashmiri businessmen are very friendly with one another. They have a mutual understanding that they do not interfere in each other’s businesses. They have divided their market like the local Tamil businessmen sell  products like garments, money bags, hand bags, stoles, table covers, window covers, sleeping bags, bed sheets, small artefacts, border for suits, bangles, ear rings etc. Also they manufacture artefacts from red, green and white marble, granite etc on special orders. Whereas ,the Kashmiri businessmen sell  products like Silver Ornaments and utensils ( both pure silver and German Silver ), Pashmina Shawls,  Rajasthani bed sheets and pillow covers, carpets, Jaipuri jewellery, Kashmiri Paper Weights etc.

One important point which I observed is that Local Tamil Businessmen attract more Indian tourists as compared to the foreign tourists while Kashmiri businessmen attract more foreigners than Indians. The main reason I could figure out during my interaction with both local and Kashmiris is that Kashmiri businessmen are more educated as compared to the local ones. Hence, they are more customer friendly during customer dealings and are able to fetch good business from foreign tourists.

I met a local Tamil manufacturer named Mr Saranga Pani and also visited his shop, Om Shakti . He sells garments, money bags, hand bags, stoles, table covers, window covers, sleeping bags, bed sheets, small artefacts, border for suits, bangles, ear rings etc. Apart from that he manufactures artefacts from red, green and white marble, granite etc on special orders. This is his own shop. But after enquiring I found out that for taking any shop on rent, one has to give R s 200000 as advance and Rs 2000 as monthly rent. And this amount is the minimum one. On the daily basis this person earns Rs 800-1000. 

He cited some problems that he is facing in this market. First is the problem of Labour. Labour work for short durations and after getting advanced salaries, they usually leave their jobs. Second problem he cited is that this year the number of tourists ( both Indian and Foreign ) visiting Mahabs has been less as compared to that of previous years. This is because of the Tsunami fear. People are now afraid of coming to this part of the country. The third problem he cited is lack of capital. He said many of the local businessmen are facing capital problem. So due to this many people are planning to  leave their businesses . Moreover problem of unemployment is there in this part of the country. Saranga Pani’s ( Owner of the shop ) son and daughter both work with him. His son is an engineer and his daughter is also educated. But both of them couldn’t get any good job. So unwillingly they have to join their dad in this business.

In my next posts I will cover some more local Tamil shops and will also talk about the Kashmiri .   

Sohrab Singh

FT13478