Gamchha: The Extraordinary in the Ordinary

National Crafts Museum and Hastkala Academy

01 March - 10 March

Image credits: Ankon Mitra and Namrata Dhall

Can a piece of cloth serve more than one purpose? The exhibition by Dastkari Haat Samiti (DHS) introduces us to a fresh perspective of looking at a simple garment i.e., the Gamchha. The checkered cotton fabric is a very common one in Indian culture. From being the symbol of the common person to a marker of identity, the Gamchha had a long journey in the history of the Indian subcontinent.

The garment is particularly important in warm and humid regions which includes Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland, Bangladesh. It is used to reduce the effect of heat as well as to wipe-off sweat on a hot summer day. The exhibition explores this utilitarian aspect of the textile through its display and installations.

The garment cannot be separated from the people. After all, it is the people who use it. The exhibition does not forget this and tries to explore this dynamic nature of the garment through people and instances. Jaya Jaitly, President (DHS), shares her journey of bringing the Gamchha into the spotlight where she mentions its significance during the COVID-19 pandemic when the migrant workers were returning to their villages. This key moment in our recent history gave rise to the concept of the exhibition.

The Gamchha is a popular garment in almost every region of India. So, naturally, it has regional variations in design, fabric and use. The exhibition includes these and provides a thoroughly studied journey of the Gamchha. This simple piece of cloth has many personalities. For instance, in Kerala, it is called Thorthu and it usually comes in white colour with a single stripe. It is wrapped around the waist, draped over shoulders or tied around the head. Meanwhile, in Assam, the Gamosa has important cultural significance. It is woven with intricate motifs and often gifted as a mark of respect.

EXHIBITIONS WE LOVED

Designed by Suparna Bhalla, the exhibition brought attention to the works of many artists. The exhibition not only examined the piece of cloth but its vast history and cultural significance. It really makes one think about the very mundane objects, often a part of our household, beyond its ordinary use. The exhibition truly brought the extraordinary part of the ordinary Gamchha for the viewers and made us think about it beyond our household.

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