Paper
Evolved
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The
Indian handmade paper
history dates back from the fifth century A.D. in China.
The Chinese
had a monopoly in papermaking art and had concealed its methods for
centuries until the fateful battle along the banks of river Talls in
751 A.D. Between the two Turkish rulers, one assisted by the Arabs &
other by Chinese army of KAO Hsien Chinh.
The Arabs won and captivated
Chinese amongst whom were a few paper-makers, that made the bench-mark
for spread of the craft. With invasions of Muslims in the subcontinent, the art came to India
in the fifteenth century A.D. And today it has the largest population
of handmade paper makers in the world.
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The
Indian handmade paper is 100% Eco-friendly and an employment generating process.
The papers are recycled from cotton rags with exception of a few made
from regenerating plant’s bark. The manufacturing process is predominantly
manual & nature based with absolutely on pollution. As a part of decorations, different embellishments like husk, straw,
jute, flower petals, herbs, algae, grass, silk, wool, jute, flower petals
herbs, algae, grass, silk, wool, mica, metallic dots and other different
fibers are used. The art also incorporates a wide variety of textured
surfaces and color coated papers, for drawing & craft utility.
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The Erandole landscape is littered with pits and vats once used for papermaking.
Abandoned graying buildings with pits inside, once sported white plaster
walls for sun drying paper sheets.
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Papermaking
methods are pictured here in a Kashmiri trades manuscript from the mid-1800s.
Courtesy:
India Office Library and Records, London, OR. 1699
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