Most Northeast Crafts Ignored at INA Metro Culture Gallery

By Subhendu Ray

New Delhi, Sep 2 : Northeast India, with its large number of craft-making tribes, is known for its varied handicrafts.

But the crafts and craftsmen of northeastern states got very small space in the first of its kind 'Crafts of India' gallery at INA Metro Station. The gallery, which showcases 58 panels made by

craftsmen and weavers from across the country, has just one hand-woven shawl from Manipur and Nagaland each. No other northeastern state has any representation in it.

In a bid to showcase the rich and varied handicrafts and handlooms of India, textiles ministry and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) jointly installed the gallery. Another reason for the gallery was to give a boost to the commercial activities at Delhi Haat, which is in vicinity of the INA Metro station.

Said textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran while inaugurating the gallery on Wednesday: "This gallery provides a platform to every state which have rich heritage of handicrafts and handlooms."

He said that keeping this in mind his ministry has ensured participation of all states whose craft works are rich.

DMRC managing director E. Sreedharan proposed that the textiles ministry install similar galleries at other stations and in some trains, too, to promote India's crafts and culture.