Class 12 Heritage Crafts Notes Chapter 7 (Crafts Bazaars) – Craft Tradition of India Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 7: Crafts Bazaars from our Heritage Crafts book. This chapter is crucial as it connects the artisan's creation directly to the market and society. For your government exam preparation, understanding the dynamics, types, and evolution of these bazaars is essential.

Chapter 7: Crafts Bazaars - Detailed Notes

1. Introduction: The Significance of Bazaars

• Definition: A bazaar is essentially a marketplace. In the context of crafts, it's a physical or virtual space where craftspeople sell their products directly or indirectly to consumers.
• Central Role: Bazaars are not just economic hubs; they are vital social and cultural spaces within the craft ecosystem. They link producers (artisans) with consumers, facilitate economic sustenance for craft communities, and act as centres for cultural exchange.
• Historical Context: Historically, bazaars in India have been vibrant centres of trade, social interaction, and information dissemination, often located strategically along trade routes or in town centres.

2. Types of Craft Bazaars

• a) Permanent Bazaars:

  • Located in established market areas within towns and cities.
  • Shops are permanent structures, often clustered based on the type of goods sold (e.g., a street for metalworkers, another for jewellers).
  • Offer continuous access to goods for consumers.
  • Artisans may own shops, rent them, or sell through traders/retailers located here.
  • Examples: Traditional markets in old cities like Chandni Chowk (Delhi), Johari Bazaar (Jaipur).

• b) Periodic Bazaars (Haats / Shandies):

  • Held on specific days of the week or month in rural or semi-urban areas.
  • Temporary structures or open-air setups.
  • Crucial for rural economies, providing artisans and farmers a platform to sell surplus goods.
  • Serve as important social gathering points for surrounding villages.
  • Often involve direct selling by artisans, though intermediaries can also be present.
  • Offer a diverse range of goods – crafts, agricultural produce, livestock, daily necessities.

• c) Specialized Bazaars / Melas:

  • Often linked to specific festivals, religious occasions, or seasonal events.
  • May focus on particular types of crafts relevant to the occasion (e.g., pottery during Diwali, kites during Makar Sankranti).
  • Can be large-scale annual events attracting artisans and visitors from wider regions.
  • Example: Pushkar Mela (Rajasthan) which includes livestock trading alongside crafts and cultural events.

3. Functions of Craft Bazaars

• Economic:
  • Primary platform for sales and income generation for artisans.
  • Facilitate price discovery (though often influenced by middlemen).
  • Support ancillary trades (transport, food stalls etc.).
• Social:
  • Meeting place for communities.
  • Strengthen social bonds and networks.
  • Facilitate exchange of news and information.
• Cultural:
  • Showcase traditional skills and aesthetics.
  • Enable transmission of craft knowledge (informally).
  • Promote cultural identity and regional specialties.
  • Allow consumers to interact with artisans and understand the craft process.

4. Challenges in Traditional Bazaars

• Dominance of Middlemen: Intermediaries often buy cheap from artisans and sell high, reducing the artisan's profit margin significantly.
• Lack of Direct Market Access: Many artisans, especially in remote areas, struggle to reach larger or more lucrative markets directly.
• Infrastructure Issues: Periodic haats often lack basic facilities (shelter, storage, sanitation).
• Competition: Face competition from mass-produced goods.
• Credit & Capital: Artisans often lack working capital and rely on middlemen for credit, leading to exploitative relationships.
• Information Asymmetry: Artisans may lack information about market trends, pricing, and consumer preferences.

5. Modern Interventions & Contemporary Craft Bazaars

• Objective: To address the challenges faced by artisans in traditional markets, provide direct access, ensure better remuneration, and promote crafts.
• Government Initiatives & NGOs: Setting up platforms that bypass middlemen.
• Examples:
  • Dilli Haat (Delhi):
    • A permanent, planned open-air market space providing a 'haat' ambience.
    • Combines crafts stalls, food courts representing various Indian states, and cultural performance spaces.
    • Artisans (registered) get stalls on a rotational basis for short durations (e.g., 15 days).
    • Aims to provide direct selling opportunities to genuine artisans from across India.
    • Popular among urban consumers and tourists.
  • Surajkund International Crafts Mela (Faridabad, Haryana):
    • A major annual fair (usually in February).
    • Showcases the richness and diversity of Indian handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural heritage on a large scale.
    • Features a 'Theme State' each year, highlighting its specific crafts and culture.
    • Includes participation from international craftspeople as well.
    • Significant platform for exposure, sales, and cultural exchange.
  • State Government Emporia: Government-run retail outlets (e.g., 'Cauvery' in Karnataka, 'Mrignayani' in Madhya Pradesh) in major cities, sourcing crafts directly or indirectly from artisans within the state. Provide quality assurance but reach might be limited.
  • Craft Museums with Sales Outlets: Combine display with retail.
  • Online Platforms & E-commerce: Increasingly important channel providing artisans access to national and global markets, though challenges like digital literacy, logistics, and quality control exist.

6. Impact of Globalization and Technology

• Opportunities: Access to global markets, exposure to new designs and technologies, potential for higher prices.
• Challenges: Increased competition from global products, changing consumer tastes favouring contemporary designs, need for adaptation, digital divide.

7. Conclusion

Craft bazaars, in their diverse forms, remain indispensable to the survival and promotion of India's craft traditions. While traditional bazaars continue to play a role, modern interventions like Dilli Haat, Surajkund Mela, and online platforms are crucial adaptations aimed at empowering artisans and connecting them more effectively with contemporary markets in a globalized world. Understanding this evolution is key.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What is the primary economic function of a craft bazaar for an artisan?
   a) Social interaction
   b) Cultural exchange
   c) Platform for sales and income generation
   d) Learning new craft techniques

2. Periodic markets held on specific days in rural areas are commonly known as:
   a) Emporia
   b) Melas
   c) Haats or Shandies
   d) Permanent Bazaars

3. Besides economic activity, traditional bazaars significantly serve as centres for:
   a) Only selling agricultural produce
   b) Government administration
   c) Social gathering and information exchange
   d) Formal craft education

4. A major challenge faced by artisans selling their products in traditional, unorganized bazaars is:
   a) Lack of consumers
   b) Excessive government regulation
   c) Dominance and exploitation by middlemen
   d) Too much direct competition from international artisans

5. Dilli Haat in Delhi was primarily established to:
   a) Function as a wholesale market for traders.
   b) Provide a permanent retail space for only Delhi-based artisans.
   c) Offer a direct selling platform for artisans from across India in a traditional 'haat' setting.
   d) Serve exclusively as a food court representing different states.

6. The Surajkund International Crafts Mela is typically held:
   a) Monthly
   b) Quarterly
   c) Annually
   d) Once every two years

7. Which of the following best describes Dilli Haat?
   a) An annual international craft fair
   b) A government-run state emporium
   c) A permanent, planned open-air craft and food bazaar
   d) An online platform for craft sales

8. The rise of e-commerce and online platforms represents which trend in the context of craft bazaars?
   a) A return to purely traditional market systems
   b) A decline in the importance of craft sales
   c) The increasing role of technology in providing market access
   d) The complete replacement of physical bazaars

9. A key difference between modern interventions like Dilli Haat and many traditional periodic haats is the emphasis on:
   a) Selling only agricultural goods
   b) Facilitating direct access for artisans and reducing middlemen
   c) Operating only during festival seasons
   d) Serving only the local village community

10. State Government Emporia primarily aim to:
    a) Organize large annual craft fairs like Surajkund.
    b) Provide permanent retail outlets in cities for crafts from that specific state.
    c) Function as temporary periodic markets in rural areas.
    d) Offer online-only sales platforms for international crafts.

Answer Key:

1. c
2. c
3. c
4. c
5. c
6. c
7. c
8. c
9. b
10. b

Study these notes carefully, focusing on the types, functions, challenges, and the modern solutions being implemented. Understanding the specific examples like Dilli Haat and Surajkund is also important. Good luck with your preparation!