Every region has a different culture that is mostly  defined by their dressing. And those colourful dresses provide vibrancy to our eyes.   

     Years ago, We went to a tribal area in Kutch where I found villagers making a shawl and cholis with embroidery work at their home. It was really interesting to see how those people made that product without any special training. A guest with us and they were looking with surprise. There was an old woman who was making a dress with embroidery work. She was very clear and conscious about her work. She said that her daughter, daughter in law and granddaughter also learnt that work from her. . A less facility there to learn or to teach but that was lovely work with great color combination.

         These artisans have a great sense of rhythm, colors and perfection. The little girl was there and  making a choli for herself. Her mother informed us that she is making that choli for her to wear after marriage. How beautiful she was. She was smiling while telling about her marriage. How wonderful the color tone was! The real colors in her voice, on face and in hands while working on that chaniya choli. She was feeling those beautiful colors playing in her eyes into that choli. That dress indicates their future life which is amazing to see.

        In recent years, we visited those tribal places of Kutch. Now the scenario has totally changed and they learnt the professionalism to grow their business. They earn more in selling their dresses than cattle breeding. They have won awards now and are smart enough to converse with guests. A one person with us was seeing some embroidery work to buy and their children and lady showing that. There were multicolored surrounded there but something was missing there that I found years ago. That conversation did not look colorful that we experienced years ago! Where were those colors of innocence, love and sensibility? It  is missing now badly. Those natural color tones are gone now.!? I don’t know which factors affected them and started living this colorless life? Business is important for their betterment but why are they disconnected emotionally..?? When we returned from that village, one Gypsy was there with their cattles. We were looking to take photos but he demanded a thousand rupees for that!? How do they sell their naturality?! Maybe they are affected by this global world?! 

             I think they forget those colors which were their fund balance. Tribal people live their lives in nature and from decades they understand those natural color tones. But why now can we feel their natural tone have faded..?!!                     

                The colors created by humans, no matter how vibrant, are always less valued than natural colors…  

                    Thank you so much…

© Jigar Soni