HISTORY, HERITAGE, AND PROSPECTS OF ZARDOZI AND BEADWORK BATUAS OF BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH

Abstract

The word ‘Batua’ comes from Hindi language, and it means a small bag of leather or cloth which has partitions on its inner side. One such craft related to the humble batua is the ‘Batua- making’ craft of Bhopal. A ‘Bhopali batua’ is a small purse adorned with zardozi and bead work and was used for keeping paan (beetle leaves), laung (cloves), itar (perfume) and other fragrant material by the royals and subsequently by the locals of Bhopal. Legends associate the development of batua making craft at Bhopal to the begums of Bhopal. A series of steps are taken to complete batuas and involve embroiderers, tailors, and helpers. These are delicately adorned with zardozi, bead work or a combination of both. The steps include layout, design transfer, embroidery, setting and stitching, putting the dori and finishing. Bhopali batua, zardozi and beadwork embody the cultural heritage and tradition of Bhopal. In olden times Bhopal was a prominent Zardozi center along with Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow etc. and till date Bhopal has a vast pool of zardozi and batua artisans. Patronized by the begums of Bhopal, batua making and zardozi were introduced by the begums in Bhopal as a source of income for womenfolk. Even today, these crafts can serve as a potential aid in government efforts for women empowerment and combating unemployment. However, lack of documentation and scholarly attention is posing barriers in the implementation of welfare and training policies. The present study is aimed at exploring the various aspects of zardozi and batua making for its sustainability and livelihood generation through it. The study is based on a mixed methods approach bordering more towards a qualitative study as the area of research is unexplored and lacks the presence of secondary data. Primary data were collected through unstructured interviews and focus group discussion. The present study aims to explore and document the traditional zardozi and beadwork batuas of Bhopal for its documentation and sustainability.

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