Social Exclusion: A Case Study of Bhadohi Carpet Industry

Abstract

The proposed paper examines six case studies of the Bhadohi Carpet Industry within the framework of ‘social exclusion’. After defining the concept social exclusion, the researchers have emphasized its relevance on Indian society, in general, carpet industry, in particular; it has been pointed out that the process of social exclusion has started due to the introduction of new technology in the process for production of carpets in Bhadohi. If distinction is made between actors involved in traditional designing as opposed to new designing with the help of the new technology conceptualised as computer-aided design (CAD), the case studies highlight the vulnerability of the traditional designers involved with the carpet industry due to penetration of the computer-aided designing in Bhadohi. As far as dyeing is concerned, traditional manual dyeing was dominant; however, boiler dyeing is replacing the manual dyeing and this is another example of advancement in technology. Finally, at the stage of weaving, earlier manual practice was predominant but gradually tufted/hand guns are replacing the manual weaving in the process of advancement in the carpet making.