Craft Map of Manipur

February 5, 2022

The craft map of Manipur was prepared on the basis of a field survey by an expert team in 2018-19. It is the first of its kind, prepared with the objective of providing equal, concentrated attention to all art forms.

Highlights

The craft map of Manipur was prepared more than a year ago.
It provides the details of Manipur’s handloom and handicraft traditions.
This map recently came into limelight, when Konsam Ibomcha Singh received the 2022 Padma Shri for doll-making craft.
Apart from him, Lourembam Bino Devi was similarly honoured for preserving ‘leeba’ applique textile art from state, for more than five decades.

Art forms mapped by MEETAC

The Mission for Economic Empowerment of Traditional Artisans and Craftsmen (MEETAC), Manipur mapped several art forms, in association with the National Institute of Design. It includes:

Longpi, village in Ukhrul district of Manipur lent its name to black earthenware, which was crafted by Tangkhul community without using a potter’s wheel.
GI-tagged Manipuri half sari called ‘moirang phee’, has been named after Moirang village from where it originated.
Thangjam Leikai in Imphal East district derived its name from ‘thang’, meaning knife.

Objectives of MEETAC

MEETAC work with the objective of addressing the issues of raw materials faced by craftspeople.

What are the issues of raw materials?

Thangjam Leikai artists do not get iron ore from Kakching and Thoubal districts. Thus, they make do by using wire coils and spare parts of old trucks. These wires are remoulded and chiselled to make kitchen knives and farm tools. Similarly,
Artisans in Senapati district create products from recycled aluminium metal waste through wet sand-casting technique for making utensils and large cooking ware.

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