Geographical Indication (GI) Tags of Gujarat

Gujarat, earlier known as ‘Anarchant’ (meaning ‘Land in West’ during the Mahabharata period) and ‘Gajjar Pradesh’ or ‘Gurjaradesa’ (meaning ‘The Land of the Gurjaras’), is a state situated on the western coast of India and is bordered by Rajasthan in the northeast; Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu in the south; Maharashtra in the southeast; Madhya Pradesh in the east; and the Arabian Sea and the Pakistani province of Sindh in the west. Being one of the most industrially developed states of India and a manufacturing hub, Gujarat is the fifth largest state of India by area and ninth largest state by population. With a coastline of 1600 km, Gujarat is prominent for its traditional clothing, food, natural landscape, Asiatic lions, Rann of Kutch (White Desert), colorful handicrafts, festival, and culture. Till date, Gujarat has been bagged with 16 Geographical Indication (GI) Tags, the latest being Rajkot Patola and Pethapur Printing Blocks.

An application for a GI Tag for “Otho Dongo” was also filed; however, the Geographical Indication Registry of Chennai rejected it in 2019 (click here to access documents). It is a handicraft product and its application for GI Tag was filed by Akshar Shilp on 10^th October, 2016. The Registry and the Consultative Group Expert Committee observed that the applicant had not fulfilled the basic requirements for registration as per the Act in curing the fundamental deficiencies. Thus, the application was rejected because the applicant failed to prove the contents of the application relating to the product after being given several opportunities. No supporting documents were produced by him for the query raised in the report to prove the claim. Application Details of “Otho Dongo” are mentioned below-

Application Details

Rajkot Patola is a handicraft product, whose application for GI Tag was filed by Rajkot District Weavers Association on 16^th March, 2012. The product was certified on 3^rd October, 2018. The Application Details of ‘Rajkot Patola’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Rajkot Patola also known as ‘Single Ikat woven Sarees of Rajkot’ are the Sarees with plain colored warp and pre-designed weft through tie-dye and are woven in such a way that a beautiful design pattern emerges once it is finished. A large number of unique design of sarees (around 20 design patterns, some of them namely, Nari Kunjar Bhat, Chanda Bhat, Manekchok, Ratanchok, Vohra Gaji Bhat, Pan Bhat, Dada Bhat, Galvali Bhat, Navratna Bhat, Ras Bhat, etc) with various color combinations are woven in this variety of sarees and are made up of either natural silk or synthetic yarn, ranging from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 25000 which is comparatively lesser in price as compared to Ikat sarees manufactured elsewhere in India. Saree weavers of Rajkot Patola are mainly located in Rajkot City and the preparation of 1 silk saree takes one week’s time for a team of five members who are mainly family members.

Rajkot Patola is a beautiful combination of two ethnic arts, i.e. traditional design and Ikat design. Also, the motifs comprised sets of identically patterned threads, which results into the block- like quality of the patterns and the same is a characteristic of these fabrics. This quality increases as the number of threads per set grows larger and diminishes as the number of threads per set decreases.

Rajkot Patola possesses certain unique qualities and specifications which makes it truly different from other Ikat Sarees. Firstly, there is usage of jari either in Pallu, Border or Body or in all of the three in the saree. Also, Lagdi patta is in both the borders of the saree. Secondly, different shades are used in warp and weft and the resultant effect will be the third shade which emerges in the saree after weaving. Thirdly, the warp is jari and weft with Ikat designed silk yarn. Fourthly, motifs in the saree are unique in Rajkot as they are woven by adjusting the warp and weft with fingers without using Dobby or Jacquard. Motifs are generated using only Jari. And lastly, these sarees are woven with a blouse different from other Ikat sarees like Pochampalli (A.P), Sambalpur (Odisha) and Patan Patola (Gujarat) which do not come with a blouse.

Pethapur Printing Blocks is also a handicraft product, whose application for GI Tag was filed by Gujarat Council on Science and Technology on 28^th August, 2017. The product was certified on 7^th November, 2018. The Application Details of ‘Pethapur Printing Blocks’ are mentioned below-

Application Details

Pethapur Printing Blocks are amongst the oldest crafts of the world and are one of the finest printing blocks in the country. Being a unique traditional Indian Art, the Block making, marks the epitome of textile design sensibility of Gujarat. Originating from an old small town of Gandhinagar district, named ‘Pethapur’ also known as “the Craftsmen’s Village” or “the hub of the block making industry of the world”, Pethapur Printing Blocks are made by the craftsmen of Pethapur (which was earlier belonging from a specific community of the village but  now are being made by two communities namely, Gajjar and Prajapati) by curving wood by hand tools and making an impression on it with floral and abstract designs which can be printed on clothes in different hues of colours by using the blocks and dipping the same in a coloured mixture of different colours. The printing blocks are made only from the 100% seasoned teak wood, locally known as Sagwan, by the craftsmen as teak is the perfect base for carving because it is strong and does not absorb water or distort in shape or size.

The wood is carved according to the design and effect sought to be produced and is cut away carefully from any knots of the wood. It is painted white and then the design is traced on it, to increase its contrast and visibility. Since, the carved blocks are to be dipped constantly in the colours and water; the blocks are immersed in the groundnut oil for a period of 2-3 days to preclude the harmful effects of the atmosphere like bending. Also, in the production of the printing blocks, traditionally vegetable dyes were used which are now replaced by the eco-friendly artificial dyes. Craftsmen use a variety of chisels of different shapes and sizes (namely, Kalami, Golputhiya, Gala Kathavanu, Katni Choras, Thaso) and tools (such as Prakar, Hathodi, Guchyu, Tichaniyu, Ghasaniyu, Thapadi, Sayadi-Kamathi, Kanas/Atedo Bhekhaniya) to create minute and attractive designs on the blocks. Mostly the patterns of blocks have motif of flowers, creepers, dots, leaves, human figures, birds, animals, and geometrical designs.

Being a unique workmanship of Pethapur in the unique craft of block engraving and establishing its first rank among all the centers of India, Pethapur Printing Blocks requires expert craftsmen with skilled hardwork and artwork so that they can carve blocks with lines almost a millimeter thin and close together. They make blocks for printing designs with the skilled craftsmanship which is so precise that the fields and outlines of the motifs match flawlessly. Wooden blocks range from as small as 1” to 16” in size and while a basic block, 3 to 4 inches across takes a day or two to make, an intricate one can take almost a week’s work and all of this does not require power in any form except manual labour.

GI Tags of Gujarat are-

Agricultural Products:

1. Gir Kesar Mango [here]
2. Bhalia Wheat [here]

Handicraft Products:

1. Sankheda Furniture [here]
2. Agates of Cambay [here]
3. Kutch Embroidery [here]
4. Tangaliya Shawl [here]
5. Surat Zari Craft [here]
6. Kachchh Shawls [here]
7. Patan Patola [here]
8. Warli Painting [here]
9. Sankheda Furniture (Logo) [here]
10.  Kutch Embroidery (Logo) [here]
11. Agates of Cambay (Logo) [here]
12. Jamnagari Bandhani [here]
13. Rajkot Patola [here]
14. Pethapur Printing Blocks [here]