ME AND COLOUR

These days our lives can be described as an endless indulgence in consumerism. And in this blind quest we are going further and further away from our natural moorings. Everyday from the time we get up to the time we go to sleep it is a sequence of continuous the of all kinds of man made commodities Earlier this consumerism was restricted to the urban population.

Today it has became universal. Unabashed consumerism seems to be the creed of all, some have started questioning this. May be this questioning will bring same sanity.

This n0te of caution is applicable to everything. Take colour for example. Colour is what describes the very foundation of all that we see and view. Without colour we will loose the most joyful dimension of everything. - Rivers streams, mountain, forest, etc, Further, this foundation has permitted into all that we create, particularly, into that with which we drape and cover ourselves, our clothes. A beautifully dyed cloth is not only and utility item; it is an individual’s statement, an acts of creativity and effort to emulate nature.

It is in this creative process of trying to capture some of the spirit of nature that we can either emulates or be in harmony with nature or became a self-centered dandy. In other words the over quest for colour, either we can search for sustainability, the essential ethos of mother nature, or became consumerists interested only in a colourful piece of cloth. My aspiration has been to learn and practice the ways of Mother Nature – the natural process. Way back when human beings started living in groups and tribes and focus was on food, clothing and residence, everything came from nature. Nature was the model nature was the source. Wants, needs and expectations remained restricted. Interestingly in activities such as coloring of fabric, wood and other commodities it was found that the basic ingredients were easily available and normally not used as food items. But today there is a change in our desire to emulate nature. We have started ignoring fundamentals such as colouring of fabric, wood and other commodities it was found that the basic ingredients were easily available and normally not used as food items. But today there is a change in our desire to emulate nature. We have started ignoring fundamentals such as environmental sustainability etc. we have started experimenting and propagating practice, which are destructive. We have to stop this.

One thing is clear. In society if a method or thinking succeeds, more and more people tend to accept this. The use of natural dyes and natural fabric is making a slow comeback. If we can show the utility and sustainability of using natural ingredients to make dyes, this will certainly blind ever-increasing adherents. However the state will have to help. It will have to encourage a shift towards natural dyes and discourage the use of chemicals. We have to try and retain the true import of colour. A gift of Mother Nature.

Why natural dyes?

Why natural dyes?

1.Totally eco-friendly

2.Helps to maintain body temperature

3.Cool to the eyes & good for the skin

4.Aromatic in character

5.Healthy substitute to harmful chemical dyes

6.Effluent safe for irrigation & organic

manure production

7.Maintains the strength & quality of fibre

8.Provides work to tribal & rural people

9.Does not destroy the forest & plant world

10.Safe for infants & children

Natural Dyes Unit at Magan Sanghralaya

Magan sanghralaya is the only museum founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1938 dedicated to the artisans and rural industries.

It is here Dr. Devendra Kumar started the moment of production and sale of Khadi with out dependance on Govt. rebate. His mission to manufacture organic Khadi with out chemical colours was fulfilled by Mukesh Lutade. .Trainined at Gandhi Gram Trust, Tamil Nadu he started the Natura Dyes unit in 2003 in Magan Sanghralaya.

This pamphlet reflects the unique work done by the unit in developing new techniques of natural dyeing, bleaching, and printing. Till now the unit was confined to in-house dyeing of Khadi fabric. Now the Natural Dyes unit is well equipped to take your orders for dyeing and printing on commercial scale, at rates that will suit you. You are welcome to try the tranquil world of natural colors and hues.

Advantages of Natural Dyes

1) High diversity of rich and complex natural dye colours 2) Different colours go well together and rarely clash 3) Beauty of the results when using natural dyes 4) Excitement of unexpected results 5) Satisfaction of growing your own dye plants 6) Self-sufficiency if growing your own plants for plant dyes 7) Not dependent on nonrenewable materials 8) Allow for endless experimentation 9) Allow the replication of ancient techniques 10) Mature with age when exposed to sunlight and normal use, developing a patina as the colours mellow. 11) Aromatic smell when simmering the plant 12) Renewable Hence never Run Out. 13) Easily accessible across India in the dense forest. 14) Tress like Ø Magnifera Indica Ø Butea Monosperma Ø Antigonam Leptopus (pakdu) Ø Terminalia Bellerica Ø Semicarpus Anacardium (Bilva) Are perennial and available easily near by the villages in all the sessions. 15) Some synthetic dyes are carcinogenic so it is best to leave dying to professionals who can do it safely. The little packets of colored dyes you can buy are quite safe provided they are used as directed 16) Natural dyes produce an extraordinary diversity of rich and complex colours that complement each other. 17) Natural dyes from plants may also have dozens of compounds and their proportions vary with soil type and the weather. If you look at a yarn dyed with madder under the microscope, you will see a subtle variation of colour. A yarn dyed with the synthetic equivalent of madder (alizarin and purpurin) does not have this wealth of colour variation and looks much more uniform. 18) That natural dyes are vastly superior to synthetic dyes. They age well and develop a patina and an abrash as the older textiles are exposed to sunlight and normal use. The patina is a mellowing of the colours into an eye-pleasing sheen and the abrash is the slightly uneven hues that emerge as different dye lots, even of the same colour, fade at different rates as they age. 19) All of these factors combine in making natural dyes the ideal choice for use as organic fabric dyes. 20) ‘No synthetic dye has the lustre, that under-glow of rich colour, that delicious aromatic smell, that soft light and shadow that gives so much pleasure to the eye. 21) These colours are alive.

The Khadi (a hand-woven and hand-spun cotton cloth) sector is supported by the Government by providing rebate on the sale of Khadi. Magan Sangrahalaya took up the production and sale of Khadi as a mission to support the dying weavers and spinners and sell the eco-friendly cloth to the people without taking any Government subsidy.

Presently, this self-reliant Khadi unit of MSS is providing employment to 150 artisans including sliver plant workers, spinners, weavers, tailors, dyers and sales persons. With the collective effort of MSS team and artisans, the institute annually sells 50 Lakh Rupees worth of Khadi.

To increase the productivity and earnings of thick-yarn weavers using traditional Charkha, MSS developed a Four-spindle Magana Charkha, an improvised spinning wheel. The critical intervention here is the replacement of the costly multi-national ‘Toparm’ by an indigenous ‘Toparm’, which can be easily fabricated and

repaired in any village workshop. With this appropriate device, the spinner can earn and produce four times more than before.

MSS is manufacturing ‘Organic Khadi’, utilizing the organic cotton from organic farmers of CAPART-sponsored Watershed Project villages. Using the high-tech, decentralized, sliver plant developed by Dastakar, Andhra Pradesh, MSS is producing the best quality eco-friendly organic sliver. At the same time, it is also recycling the organic cotton seeds back to the farmer since the process keeps the seeds intact.

Return To Nature

A. Name : Mukesh R. Lutade

C. Institution : Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti, Wardha

Dyeing & Printing with Natural Dyes from the Centre for Documentation, Research & Training on Natural Dyes, Gandhigram Trust Gandhigram, Dindigul Dist., Tamilnadu. 2001-2002

Training:

Natural Dyeing on Jute, silk and cotton from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi

Indigo Natural Fermentation technique form (NIRD), Dastakar Andhra, Hyderabad.

Quality improvement of Khadi fabric from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Rural Industrialization, Wardha (KVIC & IIT, collaborative project Delhi).

Expert in:

1. Natural Dyeing

2. Screen Printing

3. Vigitable printing

Techniques Develop:

· Developed Kasim line technique on Khadi

· Developed new dye from Magnifera indica (Mango), Semicarpus anacardium (Marking nut), Azadericta indica (Neem), Terminalia bellerica (Behda), Terminalia Catapa (Jangli Badam), Antigonon leptopus(Coral Vine)

· Developed Natural Colour for Wall Painting, Screen Printing & Handmade

Paper

· Developed Neutral soap for Khadi fabric

· Developed Natural textile softener

· Developed discharge printing on Khadi fabric

· Developed Fresh leaf printing technique using natural dyes

F. Awards

1. Paryavaran Krutadnyata Puraskar awarded by Honorable Mr.Babanrao Pachpute, Minister of Forest & Environment, Maharashtra state (27/10/2005)

2. Social Worker Award by Kumbalkar College of Social Work, Wardha (11/9/2007)

Articles about my work are published in the followings daily news papers:

1. Interview CNBC Business News channel

2. Times of India – Colours from organic dyes in Gandhi-land (June 5, 2008)

3. Sakal - Khadi dyed in Natural Color( Marathi) (Dec 29, 2007)

4. Lokmat – Natural dyed Wardha Khadi in Italy and American market (Marathi) (Sept 20, 2005)

5. Tarun Bharat – A new life to Khadi ( Marathi)(Dec 14, 2005)

How many years has he been working in rural areas? : 10 years

Work Experience :

Production Assistant, Handmade Paper conversion and screen printing unit, Centre of Science of Villages, Dattapur, Wardha, (M.S) (2 years).

Presently working as project coordinator, Dyeing & Printing Unit, Khadi & Rural Industries Research Wing, Magan Sangrahalaya Samiti, Wardha, (M.S.) (8Years)

Coordinated the following Projects:

Study of Heliyanthus Anus, Cesalpinea palchelima (Peacock flower), Magnifera indica (Mango), Butea Monosperma (Flame of the forest), Semicarpus anacardium (Marking nut), and its scientific conversion as natural dye material sponsored by Gandhi Gram Trust, Tamil Nadu.

Low cost Natural dyes from indigenous forest produce sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi

Consultancy :

Consultant to Weaving the Weaver, Italy

Consultant to Annie Francis, Chennai, TN

Consultant to Women’s Weave, Maheshwar, M.P.

Consultant to yuti textile Malegoan , M.S.

Participation:

International Symposium – Workshop on Natural Dye, Hyderabad organized by UNESCO, (November 5 to 12, 2006)

World social Forum, Mumbai (2003)

Social Activities :

Organized and conducted following programs

Science popularization, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha and Lokshala Abhiyan led by NCST, DST, New Delhi.

Anti-Superstition campaign in 40 villages led by Andha Shradha Nirmulan Samiti, Wardha.

Gram Swaraj Abhiyan in 10 villages led by Sarvoday Leader - Shri Thakurdas Bang,Sarva Seva Sangh, sewagram.

Participated National Integration Friendship Camp at Anadpur sahib, Punjab; Chenni, TN; Shillong, Meghalaya, Ajmer , Rajasthan: and Delhi organized by SN Subbarao, National Youth Project, New Delhi

Participated in Janadesh organized by Ekta Parishad, P.Rajgopalan

Conducted AID awareness campaign in 40 Villages

Conducted Snake Awareness programs in villages of Wardha and Chandrapur districts of Vidarbha region.

Cycle Yatra in 40 villages of Wardha District covering social subjects like National Integrity, Sanitation, Health, Anti-Dowry and Anti-Superstition.

Formed youth cultural group, ‘Yuva Sanstriti Manch’ to generate awareness on society related problems.

*******