#protectheritage

CJI Surya Kant’s remark; “Temple money belongs to the Deity”; echoes what millions of Hindus feel.

For years, temple funds in parts of South India have been diverted under state control… enriching systems, not strengthening temples. Devotees give with faith, not for political fulfilment of promises.

In a quiet Telangana village, when the afternoon sun softens, an old man sits near the doorway. Beside him, a young boy watches closely.

No notebook. No classroom. Only hands, eyes, and silence.

The elder does not speak much. He just works. The boy learns by watching how fingers move, how mistakes are corrected gently, how patience is more important than speed.

This is how knowledge has always travelled here— slowly, carefully, like water finding its way through dry soil.

Cultural & Historical Background

In Telangana, craft knowledge never came from books. It came from homes.

Weaving, metal work, zari making, dyeing, stone carving—these were not professions taught outside. They were ways of life passed inside families. Skills moved from one generation to the next like heirlooms.

A craft was not just income. It was identity. Villages were known by what their hands created. The work shaped festivals, rituals, and everyday living.

To lose a craft was to lose a part of the village’s name.

That is why knowledge was passed carefully. Not hurried. Not forced.

The Making Process (Simple & Poetic)

Before any craft begins, learning begins.

First, the child watches. Then helps—holding thread, cleaning tools, sorting colours. Later, tries small steps under watchful eyes.

Hands tremble at first. Mistakes happen. Elders correct softly.

“Slow,” they say. “Feel it.”

Every step is repeated until the body remembers. Knowledge enters fingers before it enters the mind.

Like sowing seeds before monsoon, nothing is rushed.

Stories of the Craftsmen

Many artisans remember learning while sitting on mud floors, their legs folded, their backs straight. School happened later. Craft came first.

Their parents never said, “This is tradition.” They simply said, “This is how we do it.”

Some craftsmen still work the same way their grandparents did. Tools change slowly. Techniques remain.

They don’t call themselves teachers. But they teach every day—through example.

Their pride is quiet. Their lessons are patient.

Current Struggles

Today, passing knowledge has become difficult.

Young people want quick results. Fast money. City life. Crafts take time—and time is expensive now.

Parents hesitate to teach skills that may not feed families. Children hesitate to learn something the world no longer celebrates loudly.

Many crafts stand at a pause—not because skills are lost, but because learners are missing.

Government Initiatives & Ground Reality

There are training programs. Skill centres. Workshops.

They help in parts. But true learning cannot happen in short courses. It needs years, not weeks.

Real craft knowledge grows in daily practice, in mistakes corrected gently, in long hours of repetition.

Support must protect families, not just skills.

Why This Craft Matters Today

These crafts carry more than beauty. They carry wisdom—about patience, sustainability, respect for material and time.

In a world rushing forward, these traditions teach us to slow down. To value hands. To trust experience.

They remind us that progress does not mean forgetting roots.

Customer Perspective

When someone holds a handmade piece, they feel something different.

It feels alive. Uneven in a good way. Warm.

It feels like someone cared.

That feeling comes not from machines—but from knowledge passed carefully, over generations.

Knowledge passed carefully does not shout. It whispers.

It lives in hands that remember, eyes that guide, hearts that stay patient.

If we listen closely, Telangana’s crafts are still speaking—asking us not to rush, not to forget, not to replace care with convenience.

Respect the learning. Respect the passing. Because once knowledge is broken, it cannot be repaired easily.

And some losses are deeper than silence. To know more about this living heritage, visit:

https://zarizardosihyderabad.com

Related Craft Links (Explore & Learn)

https://cheriyalscrollpainting.com

https://ikathnalgonda.com

https://lacbanglescharminar.com

https://cottondurrieswarangal.com

https://bathikpaintingsiddipet.com

https://nirmaltoycrafts.com

https://handembriderynagaram.com

https://handembriderynizamabad.com

https://bobbinlacestationghanpur.com

https://banjaraembroiderytg.com

Telangana, the youngest state in India, is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, scenic beauty, and world-famous handicrafts. Its traditional arts include Cheriyal Paintings, Nirmal Toys, hand embroidery (Nagaram, Nizamabad), Bobbin Lace, Banjara Embroidery, Zari–Zardozi, cotton durries, lac bangles, Baithak paintings, Ikat, pearl jewellery, intricate stone carvings, and hand-printed cotton textiles, each deeply rooted in tradition and craftsmanship.

The Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS), under the Ministry of Textiles, aims to holistically develop handicraft clusters across India, including Telangana.

Supported by: The Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), the nodal agency for promoting and developing the Indian handicrafts sector, focused on artisan empowerment, market expansion, and sustainable livelihoods.

Executed by: The Andhra Pradesh Productivity Council (APPC), an autonomous non-profit organization established in 1958 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, implementing the project in Telangana through consultancy, micro-enterprise development, skill development, training, surveys, energy audits, and rural livelihood initiatives.

Click here to learn more: http://bit.ly/1KBkp3b

#UNGA #ProtectHeritage

On Sunday, 27 September 2015, Jordan and Italy, together with UNESCO, INTERPOL and UNODC will host a High-Level Special Event to launch a new international initiative that seeks to enhance the protection of cultural heritage targeted by terrorists and illicit traffickers.

Throughout the last decade, the world has witnessed a sharp increase in the amount of destruction and terrorist attacks against cultural heritage of countries affected by armed conflict, as well as the unprecedented scale of organized looting, illicit trafficking and sale of cultural objects.

The event comes against a backdrop of increased international activity aimed at countering this threat.The Security Council as well as the General Assembly have taken steps to condemn and deplore the destruction of cultural property. In June, Italy, Jordan and UNESCO hosted a roundtable discussion to assess ongoing efforts to counter the destruction of, and trafficking in, cultural property.