Research and Documentation

2. SHADES
OF
BAMBOO
ACraftDocumentationby
AkshayKumarMahendra

3. A Craft Documentaion by Akshay Kumar Mahendra
Toy And Game Design 2016
Guided by: Ms. Carmina Fernandez, Sonal Chauhan, Amit Sinha

4. Copyright © NID 2018
For private circulation onlyW
Written and documented by :
Akshay Kumar Mahendra | M.Des | Toy and Game Design | Batch of 2016 | National
Institute Of Design, India.
Photographs and texts by Akshay Kumar Mahendra unless stated otherwise.
All rights reserved under International Copyrights © 2018 convention. No part of
this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any forms or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, Inclusing photocopy, recording or any other information
storage and retreval system, without permission in writing from the concerned
authorities.
Printed at Chaap Digital Studios, Ahmedabad,
Acknowlegement
Craft documentation has been a great opportunity in my life where I have studied one the
traditional craft which has originally originated in our neighboring country Pakistan. I have
observed the entire process which were involved in the making of the mat, collected the rele-
vant information to compile this document.
I owe my deep gratitude to our project guide Ms Carmina Fernandez, who took keen interest
on our project work and guided us all along, till the completion of our project work by provid-
ing all the necessary information for developing a good result. I am extremely thankful to Mrs
Sonal Chauhan for providing such a nice support and guidance, although she had busy sched-
ule.
I would like to thank Manoj bhai and his family, who have given me their precious time to
make me understand their world as well as their craft. Without their help this craft documen-
tation would have not been possible. Thank you for being patient with me during my learning
process of the craft.
Finally I want to say thank you to my colleagues here at National of Institute of Design who
helped me during field visit.

5. Contents
Contents
Acknowledgment
1. Introduction to city of Ahmedabad 10
2. Demographics 12
3. Culture 12
4. Festivals 13
5. Local Crafts of Ahmedabad 14
6. Places to Visit 16
Craft
7.Introduction to bamboo mat making 18
8. Craftsperson 21
9. Family Tree 22
10. Crafts made from bamboo in Ahmedabad 26
11. Materials 28
12. Tools 29
13. Process 31
Page No. Contents Page No.
13. Threats 46
14. Opportunities 46
15. Conclusion 47
16. Bibliography 48

6. 10 | 11 |
Introduction of
city of
Ahmedabad
Gujarat is situated in the west coast of In-
dia. Ahmedabad is the biggest city in Gujarat
and most populous too. After the founding of
Ahmedabad on the east bank of the Sabarma-
ti River by Ahmed Shah in 1411 AD, the city
grew steadily for the next several decades. By
1487, it had become a power center that Shah’s
grandson Mahmud Begda decided to fortify it
against all possible attacks. A wall 10km in cir-
cumference was built to encircle the city and
protect it from invasion. This wall originally had
twelve gates. Now it has 7 gates. On one side
of the river lies the old city on the other side of
the Sabarmati river is the urban Ahmedabad.
The textile business of Ahmedabad dates
back to the 19th century. The cotton garments
were exported all over the world. Ahmedabad was
also called the Manchester of India. The industries
.
were situated in the banks of the river Sabarma-
ti so water required for the cotton industry was
available. The black soil was available in abun-
dance which was necessary for the growth of
cotton. Ahmedabad is also near to the sea and as
such export and import of textile became easy.
Ahmedabad has a population of around 8
million. It has a sex ratio of 897 women to every
1000 men. Population in Ahmedabad is of mixed
communities. It has a large numbers of traders
called as Banias who belong to different sects of
Janism, Hinduism and Vaishnava. Ahmedabad
has over 300000 Muslim population. There are
small percentage of population who are Chris-
tian. There has been a violent history of Hindu
Muslim riots but the people of different cul-
tures have grown to live in peace and harmony.

7. 12 | 13 |
Demographics
With 8,019,000 people the city of Ahmedabad has the highest population in
Gujarat. There are approximately 31,000 rural families living in Ahmedabad with
about 1,700 of them living below the poverty line. In addition to the rural families,
around 250,000 people are living in slums. Ahmedabad has a sex ration of 897
women to every 1000 men. The overall literacy rate is 88.29% with 92.30% of
men being literate and 83.85% of women being literate. The majorities of Ahmed-
abad’s residents are native Gujaratis and speak the Gujarati language. In addition
to Gujarati, the other two major languages spoken in Ahmedabad are Hindi and
English.
Culture
Ahmedabad city has a diversified culture. People of Ahmedabad are very pas-
sionate about celebrating each and every festive occasion then be it Navratri, the
nine nights festival or the kite flying festival. Ahmedabadis are usually very fond
of food. The cuisine of Ahmedabad consists of such yummy lip smacking dishes
that you’ll be tempted to try out more and more food each time you enter into a
restaurant. The cultural heritage of Ahmedabad is very rich. . Ahmedabad cuisine
mainly consists of vegetarian dishes. However, non-vegetarian delicacies are also
available in the restaurants.
Festivals
Gujarat is famous for the various vibrant festivals. People are very enthusiastic
and celebrate every occasion with zeal happiness. The festival marks the days
in the Hindu calendar when winter begins turning to summer, known as Makar
Sankranti or Uttarayan. People all around the city get to their roofs and fly kites.
The Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation organizes the International Kite
Festival at a local stadium, where kite enthusiasts from all across the world show
off their skills. A kite market is held, alongside which are food stalls, cultural
performances and special kite displays at night, when illuminated kites known as
tukals are flown.
Another famous festival is Navratri. This is among the most vibrant festivals in
Gujarat and other parts of India. During this 10-day celebration, locals perform a
Durga pooja, and enjoy with music, garba and dandiya.
Rath Yatra is one of the most awaited festivals in Gujarat and other parts of India,
and it takes place majorly in four places including Jagannath in Ahmedabad (Gu-
jarat). This sacred annual celebration’s main highlight is the procession that is led
by an ornate chariot. Regardless of which festival in Gujarat you choose to attend,
you can soak in the Gujju vibes as this state has beautifully managed to cling on to
its past while pacing up with the modern world.

8. 14 | 15 |
Mata ni Pachedi
This is a textile based craft. Mata ni Pachedi
literally means “ Behind the mother goddess”.
When nomadic vaghavi community of Gu-
jarat were barred to enter the temples, they
made their own shrines and descriptions of
mother goddess on the cloth. Red is the main
color of painting. In the center is the mother
god, which is surrounded by deities. This
craft is also called as Kalamkari of Gujarat.
Local Crafts of Ahmedabad
Appliqué Work
This is a textile based craft. It’s basically cloth
wear design. This technique of craft was also
called as Katab. It has unique style of fabrica-
tion, color usage, composition and patterns
. The craft consist of intricate floral, animal
and geometrical patterns. It is used in bed
sheets, cushion covers, curtains, dress mate-
rials etc.
Kite Making
This is a non-textile craft and is seasonal. In
the festival of Uttrayan people fly kites. At
that time there is huge demand of kites also
known as Patang. Craftsmen from neighbor-
ing states come to Ahmedabad to make kites.
It is a paper craft.
Mat Making
It is a non- textile craft. Mat making is a sea-
sonal craft. The sale of this craft is very high
in the time of summer. It is used as drapes to
cover the windows and in balconies to beat
the heat. It is made of bamboo sticks. It is
practiced on the footpaths of Ahmedabad.
The craft is easy to make and require very
less tools and materials.

9. 16 | 17 |
Places to Visit
Kankaria
The Kankaria lake with a periphery of 2.5kms
ha s been the symbol of Ahmedabad’s identity
since 50 years. Along with adjoinig zoo, balva-
tika, aquarium and surrounding hill garden,
is a complete entertainment center. It provides
variety of entertainment options for practical-
ly people of all ages. Because of the clean envi-
ronment, the ecology of the place has attracted
many new species of birds for breeding.
Gandhi Ashram
Gandhi’s first Ashram in India was established
in the Kochrab area of Ahmedabad on 25 May
1915. The Ashram was then shifted on 17 June
1917 to a piece of open land on the banks of
the river Sabarmati. The Sabarmati Ashram
was home to Mohandas Gandhi from 1917
until 1930 and served as one of the main cen-
ters of the Indian freedom struggle. Over the
years, the Ashram became home to the ideolo-
gy that set India free.
Jhulta Minara
Ahmedabad is well known for its swaying
minarets, more commonly known as Jhulta
Minar. It is a classic example of superb crafts-
manship, Jhulta Minar is actually a part of the
mosque Siddi Bashir. The mosque has been
constructed in such a manner that, if you
apply a little force on its upper arc, the Minar
tends to sway. The mechanism that leads to
vibration is still a mystery.
Rani no Hajiro (Queen's Tomb)
Rani no Hajiro (Queens’ Tomb) is the burial
place of several wives of Ahmad Shah, Sultan
of Gujarat. The structure is located east of the
Jama Masjid. It is a square building raised
above the level of the street around ten feet,
and is organized around a central courtyard.
On the street leading to the Queen’s tomb,
where the female members of the royal fam-
ily were buried, is now a colorful market for
women’s clothing and other items.

10. 18 | 19 |
Bamboo Mat Making
‘Bamboo mat Making’ refers to the process of making bam-
boo chicks (bamboo mats). These mats are used to make beauti-
ful window shades and blinds and they give people respite from the
scorching summer sun. Chick making is quite an ancient craft, but
very simple and elegant and it produces amazing results. What’s spe-
cial about this craft is that it requires very few materials and tools.
The Handicrafts of Bamboo is one of the oldest crafts known
to man. It is universally practiced at various regions throughout In-
dia. India is had a rich source of cane and bamboo materials, and
the Indian artisans had a practice to produce stunning utility arti-
cles. These items are meant for household uses. In modern days, var-
ious forms of decorative items are also made out of cane and bamboo.

11. 20 | 21 |
Ishwar bhai (middle) sitting in front of Kocharab Ashram, near Char Rasta, Paldi with his son
Manoj bhai and wife Banuben
Craftsperson
Amir bhai, grandfather of manoj bhai was from Lahore, Pakistan. During
the time of partition they were asked to convert to Muslim religion, to which they
differed. So they came to Bombay because they had there relatives. Amir bhai spent 6
to 7 months in Bombay but they did not like the place beacuse of the place being so
crowded. Bombay was the place where Manoj bhai father, Ishwar bhai was born. They
moves to Ahmedabad afterwards. He with his sons and wife, one son being the father
of Manoj bhai, stepped down at Gandhi ashram, since then whole family has been
working in the same place. They came here with nowhere to go, no place to eat, source
of income or with any contact. The only thing they were good at was the skill in making
chick mat. They settled their business of chick mat in front Kocharab Ashram in 1973.
Since then they work on the same spot.
Manoj bhai’s family has proper home in Partan, Gujarat since decades.
They have been working in front of Kocharab Ashram since 22 years. They live in Ve-
jalpur village, because it’s easy for them to commute on a daily basis. Ishwar bhai has 5
children, 3 sons and 2 children. Two sons work as drivers because they think it provide
better wages. The 2 daughters are married and are home maker.
With the passage of time the city has become notorious with unbearable
summer heat. People are opting for this bamboo made mats because of its cooling
properties and shade. It is mainly used in balconies and windows to keep off the heat.
The bamboo mat also goes with the interior of their home decors giving it a crafty look
and makes them feel close to nature. The craft has taken popularity and is practiced
by many families within Ahmedabad in different locations. They mostly work on foot-
paths.

12. 22 | 23 |
Family Tree
Amir Bhai
Ishwar Bhai
Manoj BhaiSuresh Bhai
Hiran Bhai
Geeta
Seeta
Arjun Hina
Banu Ben
Manoj bhai’s age is 40
years. He has an edu-
cation up to 7th grade.
He left education and
joined the family busi-
ness. He’s the sole broth-
er of two who still prac-
tices chick mat making
craft. A very helpful and
patient person. Speaks
hindi and gujarati.
An old photograph of Amir Bhai,
grandffather of Manoj Bhai stand-
ing in front Kochrab Ashram. He
passed away 6 years ago.
Wife of Ishwar bhai. Helps
with work. She also take care
of the household work. She
lives in the village of Ve-
jalpur with her family. She
has a cheerful and friendly
nature. Gujarati and Hindi
are the spoken language.
Ishwar bhai, Father of five chil-
dren, he’s 62 years old. He takes
his craft very proudly. Teaches
anyone who visits him with a zest
to learn. He has an education up
to 6th grade. Speaks very less and
a very humble person.
Knows how to speak and write in
Gujarati as well as Hindi.
Suresh and Hiran Bhai work as
full time drivers. When the work
gets hectic in summer in making
mats, they come in to lend hands.
Arjun and Hina are the children
of Manoj bhai, aged 9 years and 11
years respectively. They both attend
school and don’t work with their
family in making mats yet.

13. 24 | 25 |
A very old photograph of
Amir bhai and his fam-
ily working in front of
Kochrab Ashram with his
family. This picture was
taken in 1986 by a for-
eigner who visited India at
the time. Intrigued by the
unique mat making pro-
cess, he took this picture.
A very old photograpth
of Ishawar bhai with his
family. Behind stands his
Children. The source and
details of photograph is
unknown.
Ishawar bhai teaching a foreign stu-
dent the process of chick mat. Many
students come to Manoj bhai and
his family to learn the craft of bam-
boo mat making. It’s very unusual
because craftsmen most of the time
dont share their technique. But this
family are very inviting in helping
and sharing their knowledge. Pho-
tograph was taken by Manoj bhai in
the year 2002.
Manoj bhai’s brother
Hiren bhai with his
wife and daughter. The
photo was taken by
his family member in
the year 2011. Hiren
bhai’s daughter holds
pen holder made from
bamboo.
As this craft is season-
al, Manoj bhai and his
family in the rest of the
year undertake works
based on commission.
In the picture to the
right is one such exam-
ple, which is an en-
trance to a hotel made
from bamboo chicks.
Picture was taken Ish-
war bhai.

14. 26 | 27 |
Crafts Made
From Bamboo
IN Ahmedabad
Naresh Bhai owns a shop near Teen Darwaza. He
was born in Ahmedabad in the year 1988. He’s
been working on this craft for 12 years. He has a
formal education up to 12th grade. They practice
many crafts that involve usage of bamboo. They
also make bamboo mats. Their craft is not limited
to making mats because of the craft being sea-
sonal. They have a proper shop for selling their
products. In summers Bamboo mats are the most
sold product. They also make Baskets of different
shapes and sizes using eye catching colors. This
practice of craft and selling them is their sole busi-
ness throughout the year.

15. 28 | 29 |
Materials
4. Ropes for providing user the ability
to open and close the mat by rolling.
1. Bamboo, locally called as Bullet bas
used for making mats.
3. Nivarpatti used for giving borders to
the mat.
2. Nylon threads for winding the sliced
bamboo.
Tools
1. Rubber: This are made from tires. It is wrapped around using nylon threads.
It is used as weight and for tying the bamboos together.
2: Stones: This stones also known as Patthar are used for sharping the knives.
3: Knife: There are different size of knives depending on their use. When the
thick bamboo is to be cut in half bigger knife is used. Smaller knife is
used for slicing thin bamboo sticks and also for cutting the nylon
thread. They are also called as Chaku.
4: Big Nails: Also known as Khila, four of this are nailed on the ground depend
ing on the dimension of the mat. It keeps the mat in one place while
stitching is done.
5: Bamboo Stand: This stand is used to provide support to the bamboo log, when
it is needed to be vertically off the ground.
6. Hammer: it is used for nailing the nails to the ground and also used for split-
ting the bamboo. It’s also known as Hataudi.

16. 30 |
1. Rubber 3.a. Chaaku3. Chaaku
7. Hammer
5. Bamboo Log4. Khila
2. Patthar
3.b. Chaaku 6. Stand
Process
The process of making bamboo mat is very
easy but requires a lot if sitting and hard
work. Amazing thing about the craft is it
requires very less tools. Manoj bhai impro-
vises a lot on his work by using the source
available in the surroundings. Like using the
sign board on the footpath as support for the
bamboo log, for it to be suspend in air or us-
ing the grids of the footpath as markings and
nailing on it to fix the mat etc.
They work in front of Kochrab Ashram,near
Char Rasta, Paldi. They do not work from
their home because they have been working
there for too long and it also attracts the cus-
tomers. Also their business demands them
to go to customers home for taking measure-
ments and fixing the mat, so working from
Paldi se much feasible as compared to work-
ing from their home, Vejalpur.
The working place is open, airy and noisy.
They work from 10 am to 6 pm. The neem
tree adjacent provide with shade at summer.
The cost of mat is 60 rs/sq foot. It all varies
from user to user, the demand size of the mat
and so varies the cost. Last year Manoj bhai
and family earned a total of Rs 80000, which
was divided equally into working families.

17. 32 | 33 |
The making of craft is based on the roadside since 70 years. The place is always noisy. The
craftsperson work under scorching summer heat. Shades of the nearby tree saves them
from the beating heat of the summer.
Manoj bhai splitting the bamboo, a man-
datory process.
Bamboo splits being knotted using the
bamboo block. Nylon threads are used to
knot them.

18. 34 | 35 |
The craft starts with the cutting and finishing of the bamboos. The bamboo used here is locally called
Bullet Baas. It’s 24 feet in length when bought from Narol. Bamboo in Narol come from Laathi Bazar,
Aasol, Rajasthan. The bamboo are cut according to required dimension. Then the bamboo is split in
half and then half of the half, untill the required size is achieved as shown in picture 5.
1. The bullet bamboo. 2. Bamboos split in half.
4. Splitting bamboo from middle is a tough pro-
cess. In the above picture portrays the method of
doing it.
3. Big knife is initially hit in one of the end of the
bamboo which makes it easier to split it.
5. This is the width of the final split bamboo
which is 2cm.
6. The final thickness of the final split is around
3mm.
7. All the bamboo which are split is then cut in
desired size. This is cut using the big knife.
8. Final split bamboos of desired size and length.

19. 36 | 37 |
A stand in form of bamboo log is used to hang it in air horizontally. For this it is tied to a pole on
one side and other end is rested on a stand which is made out of bamboo.
9. Ishwar bhai tying the bamboo log one side of
the bamboo to a sign board on footpath.
9. Bamboo log tied with the sign board.
11. Rubber blocks are wrapped many times with
rope. The picture shows one of such block.
10. Other side of the bamboo log rested on a
stand made by bamboo.
13. The pair is hung on the bamboo login the
way above picture depicts.
12. Rubber blocks wrapped and tied using nylon
thread.
14. In first a thick bamboo is tied before the split
bamboos are knotted.
15. The above picture shows how the thick bam-
boo is tied.
Two rubber blocks are wrapped around many times with nylon threads. This makes one pair. Many
pairs are used depending on the size of the mat. This pair of rubber blocks are hung on the bamboo
log side by side with same distance of approx 9 to 10cms.

20. 38 | 39 |
The split bamboo is kept horizontally on the bamboo log and knotted. Next split bamboo is laid
above the previous bamboo and knotted. The process goes on until the desired length is achieved.
16. After the thick bamboo, split bamboos are
next in line to be knotted in the line.
17. Split bamboos are added one by one.
18. The above picture shows knotting process. 19. The above picture shows knotting process.
20. The above picture shows knotting process. 21. Almost all the split bamboos are used in the
knotting process.
22. At the end again a thick bamboo, similar to
one used in the starting is tied as border.
23. When the process of tying the thick bamboo
is done it cut and released from the rubber block.
When allt he split bamboos are used up in the knotting process and the desired length of the mat is
achieved, a thick bamboo similar to size of one used in the starting of knotting process is tied in the
end to provide weight and border to the mat.

21. 40 | 41 |
Once the knotting process is complete, the irregular shaped mat is taken out of the bamboo log. Us-
ing the big knife the extra length of bamboos coming out of the width of the mat is then cut to give
the mat a uniform shape.
24. The knotted split bamboos are taken off the
bamboo log.
25. The big knife is placed on the bamboo and
hit using a small bamboo log.
26. The big knife is run along a straight line
while cutting the extra bamboo.
27. Picture shows one side of the mat properly
cut. Same process is repeated on other side.
28. Nailing the big nails on the ground. The oth-
er two nails are nailed opposite to this two.
29. Mat is fixed on this two nails.
30. Mat is fixed from the opposite side on to the
big nails.
31. It is pressed by walking on it to make the
surface of the mat even.
Now with the mat having the uniform and neat dimensions, it is prepared for knitting the cut bor-
ders of the mat. To do so four big nails are nailed on the ground in a way so that it can be fixed on
the four corners of the mat.

22. 42 | 43 |
After fixing the the mat to the nails, the borders of the mat is stitched using the nylon
thread.
32
33
A rope is used to tie in the above fashion so that the mat can be rolled and opened up.
34 35
36 37

23. 44 | 45 |
38. The final bamboo mat.

24. 46 | 47 |
Threats
Opportunities
The craft is losing its craftsmen slowly as the craft is seasonal. Craftsmen work for four
months and after that they are left with no job as there is not much demand of the mats.
Ishwar bhai has three sons, two of them have left the craft business already. Because of the
craft being seasonal. Bamboo is getting expensive by the year. The traders get the bamboo
and sell it in double the price because they know the huge demand of the bamboo. This in
turn forces the craftsmen to sell their products in higher price. Which makes things difficult
for them as customers can opt for same mats which are made from cheaper materials from
proper outlets. The competition is high as same blinds and drapes are
The craft has gained popularity here in Ahmedabad because of the scorching heat of the
summer. Also the craft is situated near to design institutes because of which it gets a lot
of recognition of art and craft lovers. Students come and learn the technique of chick mat
making, which should be done in many educational institutions, in that way it will provide
exposure to the craft and the craftsmen. The craft can be connected to e-commerce sites
which will get the craftsmen more and orders.
Conclusion
Getting out in the world and talking to strangers has always been hard for me. It’s like you
have to jump, just once, in order to fly. This is what this module has provided me, an oppor-
tunity to venture out in the outer world. Traveling alone lets you know about people, strang-
ers. It also had made me learn about myself, my strength and weaknesses. People of Ahmed-
abad are extremely helpful. Be it the pan shop guy who offered to come with me so that I can
reach my destination or be it Manoj bhai and his family, who are so humble in their nature.
Manoj bhai and his family practicing chick mat craft for this long in such hard conditions
is really appreciable. Their family is working on this craft since a century. The product they
make, sells, but their market is not organized. They have been working on the footpath since
they arrived in Ahmedabad. Getting evicted from the place is always a problem, which in
turn hinders their work, which hurts income. It will be hard for someone to get to them if
someone wants to buy their product because of no proper channel.
The future of this craft is steady. It’s not on the rise nor is vanishing in near future.
People slowly are getting the grasp of this art and the beauty of it. During my visit I worked
with them. The unique process of making the mat catches the eye of people passing and by-
standers, one cannot help but ask what is going on here? Which is a good thing I suppose.
According to me as long as summers are blazing, this craft is going nowhere.

25. 48 | 49 |
Bibliography
1. Ahmedabad Fairs and Festivals - Fairs and Festivals in Ahmedabad - Major Fairs & Festi-
vals of Ahmedabad N.d.
2. http://www.ahmedabad.org.uk/fairs-and-festivals/index.html, accessed January 22, 2018.
3. Behance N.d.
https://www.behance.net/.
4. Craft Root N.d.
http://craftroots.org/.
5. Dsource N.d.
http://www.dsource.in/.
6. Explore This Way N.d.
https://explorethisway.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/heritage-of-ahmedabad-crafts-part-1/.
7. Gujarat India N.d.
http://www.gujaratindia.com/about-gujarat/culture.htm.
8. Gujarat Tourism N.d.
http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/6/11.
9. Trip, Culture N.d.
The Best of Culture in Ahmedabad, India. Culture Trip. https://theculturetrip.com/asia/
10. india/ahmedabad/, accessed January 24, 2018.
11. World Populaion View N.d.
http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/ahmedabad-population/.
12. Ranjan, M.P., and Aditi Ranjan 2007
Handmade In India. Council of Handicrafts Development Corporations (COHANDS).

26. 50 | 51 |