Cultural Heritage of India | Handicraft | Art of Weaving, Embroidery and Leather Industry

Art of  Weaving and Embroidery           Ancient India had a unique place in the fields of hand weaving, embroidery and knitting. It was said that the whole piece of cloth of a particular size (Taka) of fine muslin of Dhaka could easily pass through a ring and could be adjusted in a matchbox. Moreover 'Galicha' (carpet of several regions), knitting work on attires and artistry etc. occupied a prominent place. Amongst them are Patola of Patan (Gujarat), Bandhani of Rajasthan, kanjivaram saree and kashmiri cloth having 'Kasab' work .           During the golden period of Solanki era, Gujarat had progressed in this field. During the reign of Siddhraj Jaisingh many artisans (weavers) came and settled in Patan and made the town world famous, especially for its Patola. Some weavers of Patan were the best artists particularly of Patola of Patan. This art of Patan is more than 850 years old. Only a handful people have the skill for such a complicated and time consuming art o

Which are the Areas where most of Women Rights violations happens?

The areas that violate the rights of women in India have been stated as follows:

            Missing of Women and Girls – In many developing countries, the idiom of “missing women” has been used, when it was found, the proportion of women as compared to men is low in population. In many states of India, women and girls go missing. One of the primary reasons that lead to their missing is trafficking. When girls are trafficked, they are severely exploited and are deprived of food and other basic necessities. The girls belonging to the poverty-stricken families are sold by the brokers to men in northern India, where the problem of imbalanced gender ratio is much apparent. Besides, there have been cases of women, who go missing from their marital homes. The occurrence of violent and criminal acts against women within the house and outside, primarily lead to their absence.

            Dowry Deaths – In India, there has been an increase in the dowry deaths of women in their matrimonial homes. Disputes relating to dowry have become a serious problem. The National Crime Records Bureau reported, in 2012, around 8233 newly wed women were killed for dowry. The taking and giving of dowry is observed as a crime within the country. The Dowry Prohibition Act’ has not been put into operation in India in an appropriate manner. It has been discovered that mostly number of states neither have a Dowry Prohibition Officers nor do they made it mandatory to keep the record of things given and received.

            Domestic Violence – There has been prevalence of domestic violence in India, in spite of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. Domestic violence is, when a woman experiences violent and criminal acts at the hands of their husbands, in-laws, fathers, brothers or other family members. These include, verbal abuse, physical abuse, and inflicting various forms of mistreatment. There are numerous reasons for women experiencing domestic violence within their marital homes, these are inability to carry out the household tasks in an appropriate manner, financial problems, desire for a male child, unawareness and illiteracy on the part of women, experiencing problems in meeting essential needs and requirements, health problems and feelings of antagonism and resentment.

Which are the factors to improve and increase the Empowerment of Women?
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           Sati – Sati is a practice, when the widows were placed in the funeral pyres of their husbands. This practice was abolished by the social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy. It continues to prevail in the post-colonial India. The Sati Prevention Act was passed which declared the practice of Sati as a crime for which death penalty can also be given to the perpetrators. The act also declared that the veneration of Sati by erecting a temple and worshipping of the deceased women as a God is also prohibited. However, certain sections of individuals perceive this law as intervention in their right to practice the dictates of their religion.

            Child Marriage – Child marriage is when the marriage of girls takes place, when they are below 18 years of age and when boys are below 21 years of age. Child marriage is regarded as a practice that deprives the girls of their childhood. They experience problems in the acquisition of education, getting enrolled in school, taking pleasure in other childhood activities and in enhancing their skills and abilities. It also effects the social, psychological and emotional development of the child in a negative way. When girl children experience domestic violence within their marital homes, they feel vulnerable and apprehensive. Child Marriage Act 2006, prohibits child marriage and declares 18 as the marriageable age for girls and 21 for boys.

           Preference for a Male Child – The individuals, who belong to rural communities and socio-economically backward sections of the society, normally give preference to the male child. They regard males to be the assets of the family and possess the viewpoint that they will contribute in generating welfare and enhancing reputation of their families. The preference for the male child is a phenomenon, which is historically rooted in the patriarchal system of the Indian society. The strong preference for having a son, took place with the transformation of the Indian society from the primitive stage, which used to be mainly a matrilineal to feudal stage, where agriculture emerged as the primary recognized occupation of the people to be controlled by males.

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