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The Jhabua dolls are representations of the various tribes in their vibrant traditional attires. Crafted out of scrap cloth, these dolls also sometimes hold the tools used in the occupation of the tribes they represent. They come in various shapes, sizes and in groups or pairs. What sets this craft apart from the rest is the fact that it is the result of a general inquisitiveness to know the vivid cultures and attires behind the various beautiful crafts that led the skilled artisans of Jhabua take up this opportunity to show the world.
Jhabua dolls are an insight into the rural lives of the tribes. This aspect is also a reason for why the dolls are not much of a rave in the local markets. The dolls depict tribal people in their ethnic attire.
Dolls act as cultural ambassadors reflecting 5,000 years of Indian civilization. The Indian people have a very special affection for dolls. They are part of a tradition Indians have grown up with. At one time dolls were given away as wedding presents to the child bride. In Jhabua, the craft was revived during the early 60s by organisations to help the tribals earn a living.
The material used for Jhabua doll making is a recycled cloth; hence the craft process involves a sustainable process.
Bhil community
There was a time where people grew curious about the tribal living, citing this; the tribes started making these fabric dolls to represent themselves. Jhabua dolls are an insight into the rural lives of the tribes.
The dolls serve as souvenirs. Jhabua dolls are gifted to the bride in several parts of the country. The uses are decorative and they serve as a reliable source of income to the craftsmen all year round. The dolls closely resemble the features of tribal living all across the subcontinent, in a way the tribes identify themselves through this craft. It also acts as an informative object for the people living in urban areas, who have never experienced a tribal culture. For students in school or universities, these dolls are an apt tool to educate the youth about intangible heritage across Indian subcontinent. Many ancient tribes are relocating themselves to urban areas and it is likely that many of the tribes will become extinct if proper steps are not taken to document and preserver this unique heritage of India.
Dolls have always been a significant part of Human lives, a companion in childhood and a souvenir once we grow old. Jhabua dolls are an insight into the rural lives of the tribes. This aspect is also a reason for why the dolls are not much of a rave in the local markets. The dolls depict tribal people in their ethnic attire. These are exported or sold in handicraft bazaars or emporiums. The women who make the dolls undergo a training of six months to master the craft. To prove the strength of the dolls, they are thrashed on the floor in front of the customer. The material used for Jhabua doll making is a recycled cloth; hence the craft process involves a sustainable process.
The tribes living in Jhabua area have mastered several crafts. It is believed that after the development of urban areas, where people from various regions started gathering in cities; the tribes travelled all the way to cities to sell their unique products, the products included bamboo products, pottery, paintings etc. The people grew curious about the tribal living, citing this; the tribes started making these fabric dolls to represent themselves. The craft was called Adivasi Gudiya Shilp and gained recognition across the world.
Cloth dolls are believed to have been in existence for as long as cloth itself. Excavations have revealed that cloth dolls were made in ancient Egypt. The early existence and survival of the dolls can be attributed to the fact that scrap cloth is the easiest of all materials to source. Cloth is also easily workable and the tools required are not hard to find too. For children, the cloth dolls would also feel soft in their hands as compared to other materials.
Dolls act as cultural ambassadors reflecting 5,000 years of Indian civilization. The Indian people have a very special affection for dolls. They are part of a tradition Indians have grown up with. At one time dolls were given away as wedding presents to the child bride. In Jhabua, the craft has been revived during the early 60s by organisations to help the tribals earn a living. The work is spreading fast depending on the demand. Many villages like Bani, Meghnagar, Ranapur, Fulmalgao are blossoming centers for doll-making. The dolls depicting the lives of all the tribes are made with fabric scrap and easily available inexpensive materials.
The Jhabua dolls are made in many sizes and sometimes even life-size dolls are made on order. The sizes range from 2 ft to 5ft. The body is made of stuffed cloth and the skin color is usually painted in shades of brown. The expressions and features are painted onto the dolls.
With the rise in the popularity of the idea, the number of people joining in to work has increased but the demand has been mellow. It is one of the few crafts which are the sole source of income to these settling tribes, therefore and deplete in market demand affects adversely to their livelihood. The craft seeks new innovations and forms to suit contemporary uses. The use of these dolls in various other sectors such as education and culture curation should also be promoted.
The seemingly simple process of making Jhabua dolls involves cutting the body shaped template out of scrap cloth pieces and stuffing it with cotton or more cloth scrap. The heads are molded out of clay or plaster, with the facial details painted on. These are then adorned with traditional attire and accessories.
Fabric: Usually fabric scrap is used to cover up the doll in vibrant colors, the fabrics are sourced from different sources, and hence the variance printing and dying techniques of different clothes used in this craft gives a unique aesthetic quality to the dolls.
Cotton: It is used as a stuffing for the dolls.
Metal wires: Metal wires constitute the frame of the legs, around these wires the cotton and a cloth wrapping is put.
Clay: It is taken into account to mould the head and face of the doll.
Embellishments: To ornament the doll and make it look more attractive, embellishments such as ribbon, zari, sequins are used.
Paints: Facial features and other details on the body and attire are put through paints; these paints are synthetic, sourced from a nearby town or city.
Gum: It is a natural adhesive, used to join pieces of clothes and different parts of the doll.
Needle: Needles are used to stitch several body parts of doll by thread.
Thread: By means of thread pieces of clothes are stitched together, the whole fabrication of doll is done through needle and fabric.
Paint brushes: These are used to paint the details on the dolls.
Pliers for body brame, a hand tool used to bend the metal wire.
The dolls are used as a dowry constituent, when the bride is heading for her husband’s place. Other ritualistic importance of these dolls includes the gifts given to the child when he is born or during various rites of passage.
The seemingly simple process of making Jhabua dolls involves cutting the body shaped template out of scrap cloth pieces and stuffing it with cotton or more cloth scrap. The heads are molded out of clay or plaster, with the facial details painted on. These are then adorned with traditional attire and accessories.
The parts of the doll’s body are outlined onto a piece of fabric. Two layers are cut out with the same outline and these are stitched together along the drawn lines. This is then turned inside out and stuffed with cotton. Metal wires are fixed onto the legs to that they stand sturdily on a wooden base.
The individual body parts are joined together using strong cotton threads. ‘Pakkataanka’ is the name for the double knot technique, which is used in the stitching for the robustness of the dolls. The body is then adorned with clothes and jewelry, made to fit.
The face is made using clay and the features are carved out in careful details. This is then fired and covered with a thin layer of cloth. Facial expressions are painted onto this, a task which requires a steady hand and expertise.
The next and the last step is to fix the legs of the doll onto a wooden base. The protruding ends of the metal wire base are used for the purpose. These are made to go through the base and then hammered from the back after twisting.
Hair and other accessories are stitched onto the dolls. Clothes are made to size separately and then put onto the body. The final details are drawn on using synthetic paints.
The Jhabua doll making process does not involve any waste; the major raw material itself is a fabric waste. Bits of clothes which result from the cutting of fabric are then used to stuff the doll with cotton.
List of craftsmen.