Indian Handicrafts: Art, Culture, Social Structure, and Economy

Abstract

Indian civilization is distinguished by its rich cultural traditions, artistic expressions, and labour-based systems of production. Among these traditions, Indian handicrafts occupy a position of great significance. Handicrafts are not merely a process of producing objects; they represent the tangible form of a society’s cultural consciousness, historical memory, and economic life. For centuries, the Indian handicraft industry has served as a foundation for livelihoods in both rural and urban communities, and even today this sector provides direct and indirect employment to millions of people. The nature of the handicraft industry is primarily labour-intensive, involving the integrated use of traditional knowledge, local skills, and natural resources. Unlike modern industrial production systems, handicrafts preserve human creativity and cultural identity. From this perspective, the handicraft industry is not only an economic activity but also a carrier of social and cultural heritage.