Changing the

Women puppeteers of Rajasthan are rewriting their story, travelling to showcase their handicrafts and teaching the art to empower girls

ilk fabric in vibrant hues spread out on the dusty floor at a workshop in the city where Gulab Devi, Kesar Devi, Sarla Devi, Rama Devi and other women wait to stitch them into a story. The sunlight streams through the open doorway and illuminates the intricate embroidery done on miniature ghoda (horses) and bhandanwars (festoons) of cloth, brought to life by the calloused hands of the women puppeteers from a Self Help Group (SHG) in Nagaur, Rajasthan.

The traditional craft in their hands is not merely a relic of the past but a tool of empowerment and a symbol of resilience, challenging the narrative of a dying art. Gulab Devi, 37, recalls her motherinlaw introduced her to the ancient art of gudde-gudiya (dolls) when she was a shy 16yearold bride. According to her, the origin of this craft goes back centuries, to the reign of Amar Singh Rathore in the 17th Century, when skilled artisans breathed life into wood and cloth. The tradition continues, with each stitch carrying the whispers of history and the spirit of its creators.

For many women , doll making is not a passive activity; it is a skill that has helped open up entrepreneurial avenues. “Women in our community sit together to make dolls and other artifacts,” she says.

The process of making a puppet is captivating to watch

Sas the women rhythmically tap the hammer against wood to shape the base of a puppet. The wood mostly used is mango wood for its strength and ability to hold intricate details, or lighter woods like semul for the smaller figures. After the carver’s chisel dances across the wood, forming delicate features like the expressive eyes and graceful limbs of a puppet, the hands sift through a treasure of fabrics – simmering silks, cottons and velvets. Each piece is carefully chosen for either a vibrant sari, a regal turban, or a flowing ghagra, for the diverse characters brought to life by the artisans.

A symphony of needles and thread begins to stitch the fabric pieces together in tiny and bold weaves and transforms them into miniature garments for the wooden bodies. The embroidery patterns, says Gulab Devi, have been passed down through generations. Bells are carefully chosen for their size and sound and attached to limbs or clothing, to tinkle with every movement and add playful music to the narrative. The final touches to the puppet in making are hands painting expressive faces, each unique and full of character.

Feathers and beads are attached as adornments to embellish a breathing story.

From the beginning to the final product, more women are now at the heart of this craft, ensuring its legacy lives on through each handcrafted doll. “It is our heritage, our livelihood, and a symbol of our fight for empowerment,” says Sarla Devi.

Gamechanger

Kesar Devi who fled home at a young age and learnt the art for a living, says artisans like her now visit many schools and organisations across Rajasthan to teach the craft and empower young girls to make them selfreliant. Sarla

Devi,50, says, though the Government has introduced initiatives for empowering rural women, regressive beliefs and customs still exist in remote villages. A mother of three girls and a boy, she says that in her village in Nagaur when a boy is born, the family hangs a green wooden puppet in front of the house as a symbol of joy. “But when a girl is born, it is not done; the irony is these parrots are made by women.”

The Rajasthani dolls are more than just toys; they are ambassadors of culture and vibrant testaments to the power of collective spirit. “It is a culturally loaded craft that gives power and confidence to women. While remaining an embodiment of tradition, the puppets are a source of economic independence for the women who create them,” says Gulab Devi.

The SHGs have provided a platform to women puppeteers to showcase their work beyond their villages. Events such as the Surajkund Mela, the trade fair, and Saras Ajeevika Mela have opened the doors for women to boost their sales, enhance networking opportunities and help them understand the dynamics of the market.

Sarla Devi, 50, says earlier they relied solely on local markets and the sales were uncertain. “Some days, we wouldn’t sell a single doll,” she remembers, adding, “Now we are able to showcase our work in national markets.”

“The SHG has been a gamechanger for us,” says Rama Devi, 42. “We now travel to different states. My monthly income has increased from below ₹2,000 earlier to over ₹5000 now,” she says. The amount enables her to send her two daughters to school.

Challenges to overcome

While remaining an embodiment of tradition, the puppets are a source of economic independence for the women who create them

There is a demand for commercially manufactured dolls and toys now, says Rama Devi. “The fluctuating cost of raw materials makes it difficult for us to plan and invest in expanding our production capacity.”

The Internet has opened up new possibilities for women puppeteers as they explore online marketplaces to tap into a broader customer base.

Kesar Devi says new opportunities help them to fend for themselves and their families. “Earlier I used to feel trapped and dependent. Now, we women even pool a portion of our earnings to create a small emergency fund that can be used by members in emergency situations.”