Finding it hard to carve out a living

It is a matter of great concern that the wood-carving industry of Saharanpur, reminiscent of the Mughal period, earning about Rs 100 crore of foreign exchange annually, is on the verge of a collapse. According to a legend, this art travelled to Saharanpur from Multan, contends Mohan Maitray

KARTARPUR (Punjab) was once well known for its furniture and furnishings. Metropolitans and big cities are now well equipped to supply furniture of varied and latest designs. Still the craze for wood carvings of Saharanpur is rampant.

It is a a matter of great concern that the Mughal period reminiscent wood-carving industry of Saharanpur, earning about Rs 100 crore of foreign exchange annually, is on the verge of a collapse. Wood carving is also done in Nagina, Haldore and Nazibabad. According to a legend, this art travelled to Saharanpur from Multan. In 1880 an artisan of Multan named Ata Hussain settled in Saharanpur and he started his carving with the famous prevalent design, chilli creeper, Mirch-di-Bel. At the initial stage ‘flower-vine’ carving was done on combs but later on these adorned the wooden doors. The British government honoured Ata Hussain for his craftsmanship. The present wood carving industry was started in Saharanpur in 1918 by Haji Imam and Akram, sons of Ata Hussain.

Wood carvings are done on decorated furniture, home furnishings and children’s toys. These finished goods are exported to America, Spain, Germany, France, Canada and the U.K. In 1980 the export of specially designed Indian furniture was to the tune of Rs 6 crore but during 1996-97 this export rose to about Rs 136 crore. About 35 main furnishing firms of Saharanpur contribute half to the Indian export. Mango, blackberry, chestnut, shisham and teak wood is used in this industry. Carving on Chestnut wood is pains-taking as well as costly. Carving on shisham wood is comparatively long-lasting.

The non-availability of the right type of wood is causing great concern to this old industry as the creations out of raw wood get easily spoiled by heat and rain. The image of the exporter also gets tarnished. Seasoned wood, though costly, is durable and long-lasting. However, it is not within the economic reach of every business man. The ordering of the closure of saw mills by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, taking shelter behind the so-called order by the Supreme Court of India, generated trouble for this industry. Eminent environmentalist S.K. Upadya is in favour of striking a balance between unwanted felling of trees and new tree-plantations. According to him, non-provision of wood to this industry on the plea of preservation of forest wealth is pushing lakhs of people in the lap of hunger and poverty.

According to the president of the Wood-Carving Association, the petition on which the Supreme Court of India passed the said order only related to the hilly areas of Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern states of India. The Supreme Court directed not to allow cutting of wood in the forest areas. The cutting of wood in non-forest areas was not banned. The Jammu and Kashmir government was directed in this very order not to allow setting up of any saw mill within the radius of 7 km of the forest area.

There is no forest within 30 km of Saharanpur. The closing down of 112 saw mills in and around Saharanpur is not in consonance of the spirit of the order of the Supreme Court. Moreso, the said order only applied to the saw mills connected with plywood.

The oldest saw mill of Saharanpur, Akhlak Saw Mill, was established in 1978 much before the promulgation of Forest Act. The Supreme Court order in respect of such saw mills needs proper appreciation. It is strange that the forest Department has received forest fee for the years 1986-1997 in respect of a number of saw mills. Still these have been sealed. Moreover, forest wood is not used in wood-carving. As such there seems no rationale behind sealing these saw mills.

According to a spokesman of the Forest Department, there are 450 mills in Saharanpur district and out of these about 175 are located in Saharanpur. The spokesman also confirmed receiving of licence fee from 85 saw mills in the district, including 40 in the city and the licensing renewal process is under way.