Deepak Kumar, a skilled craftsman from Banka, is keeping the art of handicraft alive in the face of modernization. While traditional handicrafts are losing their popularity, Kumar continues to create wooden toys for children. He believes that these toys not only provide entertainment but also contribute to the development of children’s motor skills. Kumar’s craftsmanship is not only preserving the art but also serving as a source of employment in rural areas.
The handicraft market is shrinking rapidly, but Banka in Bihar is making efforts to keep it alive. In the village of Chorwai in the Amarpur Block of Banka district, handicrafts are still thriving. Kumar continues the tradition of making wooden toys, such as lattu, guddi, dandiya, and mohar handle. These products are not only sold locally but also sent to state and Kolkata markets.
Kumar and his family cut wood from the forests of Katoria and then meticulously craft the toys by hand. They also add colorful designs to make the toys visually appealing to children. Kumar can produce 200 toys in a day, which are sold for Rs. 10 each. With a family of five, they can produce a thousand toys daily, resulting in annual sales of 6-7 lakhs. Despite the popularity of modern toys, there are still people who appreciate traditional handicrafts and recognize the benefits they provide to children’s development and health.
Playing with toys like lattu not only improves children’s physical agility but also keeps them healthy. While children today are obsessed with mobile phones, traditional toys have proven benefits for their growth. Kumar laments the lack of government support for handicrafts, which is leading to the decline of this art form.
बिहार के बांका जिले में हस्तकला को जीवित रखने के लिए दीपक कुमार बाबर द्वारा जद्दोजहद की जा रही है। बाबर आज भी बच्चों के लिए लकड़ी के खिलौने बनाते हैं। यह परंपरा पूर्वजों से चली आ रही है और परिवार में इससे आय भी होती है। हालांकि, आधुनिक जमाने में लोग अपने बच्चों को आधुनिक खिलौनों से प्रेरित कर रहे हैं, जिससे हस्तकला की कीमत टूटती जा रही है। यह बाजार सिमटते जा रहा है और सरकार की उदासीन रवैया इसे और भी कमजोर कर रहा है। बाबर ने बताया कि हस्तकला के बिना बच्चों का स्वास्थ्य और मनोवैज्ञानिक विकास पूरा नहीं हो सकता।
