"What is Rohi?For a Kachchi leather artisan, finding the perfect stone slab to work on is pivotal. He usually searches for it by a river bank or in the hills, choosing one which is smooth to the touch and strong to its core. The stone is called Rohi -- after the holy leather artisan, Sant Rohidas.
Before starting work, the artisan bows to his Rohi. It is sacred. It resists the sharp blade and relentless pounding, its form intact through seasons and calamities. It is a steady companion in all the moments leading to the artisan’s creation. Often, a father passes his Rohi down to his son as an heirloom." To read more, visit the Rohi website here |
In 2015, while working with Khamir, I was a part of the team that curated 'Rohi' - an exhibition on the leather craft of Kutch. This meant that we spent months visiting the Meghwar communities across the district, for they were the ones who created the craft centuries ago.
The Meghwars shared their impressive process of converting hide into leather products, yes, but delved into their past to show us what it meant to be a leather artisan. It meant that they were the 'lowest' in the Hindu caste system, and that their craft when measured in barter currency, could only fetch them the bare minimum. What's worse - they were ostracised for working with the hides of dead animals and carrying the filth of the job around with them. Yet, it was with love and respect, not begrudgingly, that they shared their darkest stories to help us put together a fair narrative for the exhibition. As an exhibition, Rohi was a tribute to the Meghwars and brought to the fore their struggles and triumphs. It celebrated the ingenuity of the Meghwars in creating beauty and utility out of death and nurturing a culture rich with stories, songs and faith. All of our research is available on the Rohi website we put together, and can be found here. I also made a documentary traversing their history and highlighting the ironies of the present day leather industry. |