The Bagru Experiment

Bagru is located South West of Jaipur, Rajasthan, about 32 kilometers on the Ajmer Expressway. It is not clear whether, the Chipa community of weavers and dyers was attracted by the royal patronage of the local ruler or the abundance of water in river Sanjaria, but their work has singularly forged its identity over the past three hundred years. The Chipa skill in block printing and the use of natural dyes is legendary and has contributed to the prestige and demand for Bagru textile across the globe. The Muslim weavers from nearby Sanganer arrived later and so did the tanning and shoe-making community of the Raigars, making Bagru a thriving textile destination and centre for rich handicraft, infusing thereby a modicum of prosperity that is reminiscent of pre-colonial India when it supplied a quarter to the world GDP.

Creeping, unplanned, industrialisation and the more visible onslaught of inexpensive textiles destroyed Bagru’s traditional economy, over the last sixty years, and turned hand printing unviable. Although attempts at reviving the art have begun to bear fruit, the village is crumbling on itself. As the Sanjaria river disappeared, dying became difficult; forcing the use of toxic chemicals and artificial colours leading to the destruction of the water table. The artisans have gradually migrated and traders of textiles and artefacts disappeared. Bagru, suffering from its dyeing industry is in search of a revival. Can modern designers and 3D printers replace the natural dyes and the Chipa printing blocks?

Bagru represents the fate of many, once prosperous, artisanal towns and rural communities in search of a new life. What could that life be?

Bagru’s future is clear but dim — to be devoured by the fast expanding boundaries of a metropolis and accept a continuity of ghettoised existence or prepare itself for a decorous integration into the mainstream.

At the core of The Bagru Experiment* is the belief that a population of about 250,000 (typically the size of a Tehsil of which there are about 5410) can generate enough economic activity to support a vibrant community trading within itself and with other adjoining Tehsils. Each such geographical unit can be measured in terms of its domestic production, import and export and other standard economic performance indicators. These could then be used to promote localized manufacturing ( 3D printing for instance) or services ( education, health and entertainment) using readily available local manpower ( and offering them training if required).

Objective:
A thorough socio-economic analysis of the Tehsil is required to bring out opportunities and build initiatives to exploit and benefit from them. Some ideas on incubating and sustaining an entrepreneurial ecosystem is an expected outcome of the Bagru Experiment.

Assignment:
The Bagru Experiment is inviting postgraduate students, researchers, professionals and entrepreneurs to spend a period of between two weeks and two months in a Tehsil of their choice and carry out a socio economic survey of the region. The terms of reference of the survey shall be agreed prior to the commencement of the assignment.

Stipend:
All research candidates shall be paid a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 (Ten Thousand only) and be provided with a lodging facility.

Launch: Jan 2018

Last date of application: 31st Nov 2017

Contact:
volunteer@tnidevelopment.in

About TNI

The Bagru Experiment is an initiative of TNI Development Pvt Ltd, a Bottom-of-the-Pyramid Incubator of localised experiments, innovations and commercial opportunities.
TNI aims to facilitate the financing of small businesses by helping them become investment-ready. It does so by providing them with requisite market knowledge, access to supply chain networks, production and manufacturing facilities and training and skills development. Our blended financing structure allows for-profit capital to be mixed with not-for-profit support from governments and corporate bodies (CSR) and foundations to make markets work and allow small private companies to benefit from it.
Our core strength lies in harnessing big-data and dedicated market research to obtain consumer insights and utilizing them for business strategy and sustainable profitability.