When the global leaders due to ego and ignorance make futile attempts to control nature for wealth and power, they disturb nature’s harmony and cause irreparable loss to the economic, social and the cultural environment. The increase in the number of earthquakes, cyclones, floods, landslides and rise in the atmospheric temperature etc fails to instill wisdom into the minds of those leaders. In the last two decades the world community have witnessed devastating natural calamities, avalanches, droughts, earthquakes, floods, heat waves, landslides, cyclones, volcanic activities, wildfires, tornadoes, thunderstorms, dust storms and tsunamis, etc; those calamities leave a devastating impact on economy, culture and social life across the world. The mental trauma, displacement, rehabilitation, poverty, hunger and unemployment etc follows, add to the loss.  

Extreme weather events cost $2 trillion globally. Over 765,000 people died from more than 9,400 extreme weather events globally. The natural catastrophes caused significant losses of $12 billion in India in calendar year 2023 according the Global Insurance Swiss Re. India is an emerging economic power in the world and it cannot afford to sit quiet. The use of bio-degradable utility and decorative items by the world community will significantly reduce the effect of global warming, save lives and livelihood of people. It will reduce the dependence of the nations on other countries for a wide range of factory made items.

Over centuries the artisans and weavers in many countries have developed the skills of making utility and decorative items from the material available in nature. While honing the skills for several generations the artisans have enhanced their skills to make classic art objects; today those products have huge demand in the global market. The global handicraft market size was estimated at USD 739.95 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 983.12 billion by 2030; it is growing at a CAGR of 4.9%. In order to tap the ever growing eco-friendly handicraft market, the world community should protect the artisan’s skills as the skills and the creativity of the artisans only can add high value to biodegradable material. It is not possible to preserve the handicraft skills without protecting the forest, hills and the biodiversity which inspire artisans to create objects of beauty; nature provides artisans the raw material to make handicraft products.   

In Ghardaïa, the capital city of Algeria, the Muslim women weave wonderful carpets and rugs depicting the culture and the landscapes of the region. They also make pottery and baskets with grace and artistry.  Similarly, the artisans of Nigeria handcraft beautiful benin Bronzes, Yoruba Adire textiles, Leather craft called Zaria, Calabash carving and exquisite Beadwork etc. All the 54 African nations have the skills to make more than 3000 varieties of exotic handicraft items. The preservation of the original culture and natural environment in those countries will help those artisans make wonderful products for global cooling. 

Similarly, the artisans in the Latin American countries once developed the skills of making a wide range of biodegradable utility and decorative items. Even today the artisans still make hundreds of items from the material available in nature.  The Brazilians make exotic colored potteries, hand woven textiles, wood carvings and Capim Dourado from golden grass and delicate lacework etc.  The artisans of Argentina make wonderful wool ponchos, alpaca blankets, leather goods, fine silverwork and gaucho accessories etc with skills and imagination.  Magnificent wood carvings, straw work, pottery, batik and embroidery work and jewelry from seeds and shells, bamboo craft and paintings etc made by the artisans of Jamaica, reflect the rich African culture and traditions. Each Latin American country once had a rich culture and natural environment which inspired people to make  hundreds of eco-friendly handicrafts. The Maya tribe of the USA make handmade clothes, pottery, wood carvings and jewelry etc. They have contributed immensely to USA history and heritage.  Over the years the crass mono culture, aggressively marketed by a few global leaders have devoured much of the rich handicraft traditions across the world.

Each district in India once had unique handicraft traditions. The north east India is a treasure trove of handicraft skills. Thousands of artisans in Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim make a wide range of beautiful utility and decorative items from wood, bamboo, grass, tree fiber, metal, clay and tree leaves etc. They are the gifted people who have glorified India’s rich cultural heritage. The artisans depict the episodes from the Indian mythologies, the Puranas and the folklores with intricate details. Besides, they recreate social life, festival scenes, nature, animals and birds on various surfaces. 

Political leaders, media, the educated youth and the social workers, etc. of India should protect and preserve the handicrafts of North East India in its original form. If the handicraft traditions continue with its purity and vibrancy, it will create huge employment and foreign currency for the country.  Market transparency, induction of efficient and honest people for promotion of handicrafts, environment protection, peace and stability in this region will make India proud.

Like India the artisans of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and the Arab countries, the local artisans add high value to handcrafted products.  Today, the world community needs peace and prosperity. War, aggression, violence, religious fanaticism, mono culture and natural calamities due to unsustainable human activities threaten human life on this planet.  Use of biodegradable handicrafts will let people live close to nature happily and peacefully. It will not amass wealth but it will make people happy across the world. 

© Eurasia Review