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K.D.L. Khan on the marble carvers of Agra, who have been doing precious inlay work on artefacts over the centuries
EVEN 350 years after they created the Taj Mahal, the marble carvers of Agra have no equal in the world. When in 2001 a new Minbar (pulpit) was to be created for Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Mecca, the architects ordered it from the marble artists of Agra. Apart from Florence in Italy, Agra is the only place in the world where all kinds of marble inlay work is being done professionally. There are around 3,000-4,000 marble carvers or inlay craftsmen in Agra. They are karigars, or skilled labourers, who continue to live around the Taj Mahal in slum colonies in the Nai Ki Mandi area, and do precious inlay work on the artefacts, statues, tables, stools, boxes, trays, patters and other decorative items to be sold to tourists. The most popular takeaway gift, of course, is the model of the Taj Mahal itself. A one-inch model sells for Rs 60 whereas a big four-feet high Taj Mahal costs Rs 1.25 lakh. There are takers for both models and all the sizes in between. There are two categories of karigars, known as sadakars and pachikars. While basic cutting and carving aided by machines is done by skilled sadakars, exclusive inlay work, requiring expertise similar to cutting and polishing of jewellery stones using chisels and grinding stones is done by experienced pachikars.
The artwork on stone is a combination of carving, inlaying engraving, sculpture and undercut (art of making multi-layered decorative items out of one single piece of stone, hollowed from inside). Designs are made by cutting the stone and varying fine patterns on it. Stonecutters and sculptors work hand in hand. The choicest work from Agra can be seen in black and white marble from Rajasthan, or alabaster of Italy, with semi-precious materials such as cornelian, malachite, lapis lazuli, mother of pearl, onyx, and agate laid into it. The 72-year-old National Award winner for marble carving, Hafiz Ahmed had recently made a 12-feet model of the Taj, weighing five tonnes replicating the finest details of the original and the jewelled inlay work. It is hard work, says Imtiaz, where skill upgradation is necessary. Knowledge of geometry, drawing, tracing and exact calculations is important. "The slicing of marble, the inlay work, the stone cutting, the correct placement of semi-precious stones, everything demands absolute and total concentration. Nothing should go wrong even by a millimetre," says Imtiaz. His colleague — another maestro, Fazal Mohammed, 72, collaborated with two others for three years to make a Taj Mahal replica valued at Rs 3 lakh. "I am particularly keen that art traditions of Agra should be kept alive and, for this, I am willing to teach even my enemies," says Fazal Mohammed, who has been awarded a Padma Shri. The main markets for shopping for marble artefacts in Agra are near the Taj Mahal complex, Sadar Bazaar, Kinari Bazaar and Munro Road. The UP State Emporium called Gangotri at the Taj Mahal Complex, offers a range of marble handicrafts at economic prices. Foreigners are especially big buyers. All the shops allow tourists to visit their factories, which are behind the shops, for an inlay demonstration by the karigars, and to watch the craftsmen cut and carve the marble. While the estimated current production of these products is about Rs 50 million per annum, the estimated capacity is for about Rs 100 million. The Agra marble carving industry has considerably good demand of its products in the foreign market, particularly in the USA, Canada, Middle East and Europe. However, the entire export, estimated at around three fourths of the total productions is handled by dealers/commission agents and exporters of Bombay, Delhi and Kolkata. The local showroom dealing in various stone items pay commission to guides and drivers for bringing tourists to their showrooms. The rate of commission guides is very high. They are reportedly paid 30 per cent of the sale price of the articles. The drivers of tourists buses get a commission of Rs 50 and the taxi drivers Rs 25 from the showroom to which they bring tourists, mainly foreigners. The retail trade heavily depends on the tourist season. At present, the most important work by the marble carvers of Agra is being carried out at Soamibagh, 15 km from Agra, and houses the samadhi of the founder of Radha Swami sect. The 110 ft. high structure is built in pure white marble and nearly 100 marble karigars have been working on this mausoleum since 1904. — MF
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