Sandalwood art fading into oblivion

Tag : Sandal Wood
There was a time when India was the largest producer of sandalwood- an integral part of our heritage, art and culture. But withsmugglers like Veerappan and politicians who robbed our forests ofsandalwood trees, a unique art - dependant on the wood - is dying aslow death.

For three decades, Chennabasappa has been a master artisan famousfor his flawless sandal carvings.

The 52-year-old is a proud recipient of several state awards. Buttoday, his expert fingers are forced to chip away on wood that is adistant second to the royal sandal.

''If this Ganesh idol was carved in sadalwood, it would cost Rs 1lakh. But in this ordinary wood it will just fetch me Rs 50,000,''he says.

This is Sagar - home to thousands of artisans known as Gudigars whohave been carving sandal for generations.

And as sandalwood forests disappear this cottage industry mostacutely feels the impact.

Shortage of sandal has forced over 6,000 artisans to shift to otherwoods - a switch that has halved their income.

''The government supply used to come once in a month. Now even fortwo years we do not get wood. Plus, the prices have increased. 90per cent of the people don't even know what sandalwood is,'' saysMurali Gudigar, a handicraft shop owner.

It has also meant slow death of an ancient art.

''Earlier, since we used to work on sandalwood our work would fetchus more money. But now there is no scope of fine sculpting,'' saysJagdish, a sandalwood artisan.

And he aggress that there is no art any more.

''Earlier, more artisans were working but now it has reduced andthe interest is also less,'' says Santosh Khembhani, from KarnatakaState Handicraft Development Corporation.

Sandalwood has a 4,000-year-old history in India. But it took ourpoliticians and smugglers only a few decades to rob this region ofits legacy.

Production has fallen drastically even as experts push forliberalising sandalwood policies.

''The present policy on the sandalwood tree is not people-friendly.Private participation in growing sandalwood trees should beencouraged. Government control should come down, except forcontrolling illegal cutting and smuggling,'' says B S Yeddiyurappa,CM, Karnataka.

A promise we are determined to follow up. But for Gudigars likeChennabasappa the damage is done.

When asked what will he tell the politicians and smugglers involvedin smuggling sandalwood, Chennabasappa said, ''What do I tell them?They have taken away our livelihood. They have not only cut ourtrees, but they have also cut our hands.''