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Agra Central Jail: A synopsis of the exploitation that bred art

4 Oct 2022
agra-central-jail-a-synopsis-of-the-exploitation-that-bred-art

Where the tradition began

History of Carpet Weaving goes back to the time of warlord Mongol Genghis Khan. Somehow, art found a way from the trail of dead bodies from the Far East to Central Europe. This led to increased demand and growth for weaving-based artifacts, especially in places under the leadership of Genghis Khan. Carpet weavers then established the art of Weaving in every conquered location. All this heritage was introduced to India through Babur, a ruler of Kabul who defeated Ibrahim Lodhi after the infamous Battle of Panipat in 1526.



Carpet Weaving & British Occupation

The great possibility of business caught the eye of East India Company once they were able to cement the trade between India and Britain in the mid-17th Century. It started flourishing by the mid-18th Century. The major commodities were not just spices and cotton but carpets too.

Soon after exploiting the people and these possibilities, the East Indian Company gradually elevated its status to that of a ruler resulting in the British Raj which gave the British unabated power over India.

At that time, Indian prisons had become a place for education and craft production. Several Carpet weavers from Mughal bloodline were in Jail for various reasons and the Jail authority provided them with infrastructure and raw material to weave beautiful carpets simply because of the high opportunity for export and negligible labour cost.

 

The British Raj's prisoner program

During the beginning of the 19th Century, beautiful handmade rugs started to be exported from British-occupied India. Inmates in Indian Jails were being used as forced labor at the time. When the British recognized their ability to produce incredible handicrafts through woven rugs. It was a clear profitable business prospect and an added opportunity to exploit free labor.

 

Elegance sourced directly from the Jails

Prison authorities had a vested interest in productive inmate activities because of the immensely profitable opportunity. It is here where the story of Jail Carpet cemented its premise. Now, Carpet weaving had become monopolized by British Companies. While manufacturing in India was a profitable business for the British, it also benefitted the British in the UK as they were able to buy rich-quality beautifully designed hand-woven carpets at a significantly lower cost than in Persia.

 

Exhibition Possibilities and Jail Rugs

In 1862, a carpet made in the Lahore Jail was displayed at the London International Exhibition where it won a medal and became an inspiration to all other Jails in India. Promoting them to take a similar path of weaving and moving inmates to creative work.

Soon Agra Central Jail became the famous weaving center for manufacturing great-quality carpets and beautiful designs. In 1877, Benjamin Disraeli, Conservative Prime Minister, had Queen Victoria proclaimed as Empress of India. Celebrations were held in Delhi, in what is known as the Delhi Durbar, on 1 January 1877, led by the Viceroy, Lord Lytton. Agra Central Jail gifted a beautiful and large size Carpet to Queen Victoria. 

For the First time ever, the Indian Jail Carpet was being exhibited in America (In 1893, at The Chicago World's Fair). A wide range of audiences from London and America gave the demands a huge boost and Inmates were now busy making carpets in three shifts.

Carpet woven in those periods is today available as Antique Collection and is in high demand. Ivory ground Agra Jail Rug as this one will cost 9,511,048 INR for size 4.39 meters x 3.56 meters. This is currently with C. John as a collection Antique Piece.

 

Then and Now


Today, in Agra Central Jail, the Carpet Weaving division is now replaced with a new division that is making flatweave (Dari Weaving). Beautiful weaving and very efficient inmates who know how to operate the looms. The Pattern and the colors are great but they are struggling to find a market and generate demand. Nevertheless, we cherish the fact that the tradition of weaving is still ongoing to some extent inside Agra Central Jail. The Jail authority is very supportive of their endeavors. A market connect perhaps may be the missing link that brings life to our age-old glory of weaving inside Jail. This time, without the harassment of the British Raj.

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Mr. Asif Rahman

It was 1988 I was a fresh Science Graduate from Calcutta University and was roaming around the city with my C V looking for a job. I was ready to do anything and everything. It was after 4 Months of running between pillar and post one afternoon I was looking at Large Size Carpets through the clear glass of a most renowned rug store at Park Street that time in Calcutta.

The owner of the showroom was getting in, looked at me and politely asked if I want to meet anyone there. “No” , I replied and I said I have never seen a actual carpet in life so was trying to have a look. He called me in and I touched a real carpet for the first time in my life. He offered me a job to head his carpet installation team and get the labour work done at job site.

My journey began as a Carpet Installer Labour. After completion of 3 months, he offered me to be a sales person for the shop. I started roaming around the city, press the door bell of the posh residential area and kept asking if they need a carpet for their home. 85 Doors were shut on my face and 15 people were agreed to come to our store. Success of a salesman started.

1990 I became a Name in the Carpet Market at Calcutta and I got an offer from the Mill who used to supply carpets to the same store.

1991 I got relocated to a small Village called Bhadohi. My real time learning started. I was able to see the other side of the story. How to make good carpets . I was not happy with the ongoing system and I took up the challenge to build a most modernized manufacturing facility in 1993. Successfully completed the task in 1997.

1998 I became the Head of International Sales and Projects for the same company. My journey to the World began. Meeting International Architects, Interior Designer, Luxurious Brand Hotelier was able to keep me on a roller coaster.

2000 I got the first opportunity to become Panellist at Hotec Asia at Indonesia Bali and got opportunity for Face to Face Debate  with International Giants of the Industry. I started getting call from Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Dubai for discussion on Re-use, Re-new, Re-Cycle and Go Green Initiative in Carpet Industry.

2001 while doing my ongoing job, I became the Guest Faculty for Indian Institute Of Carpet Technology to take Workshop and Seminar

2002 I was done with whatever I was doing and was looking for something new, some new challenge. My company offered me to go and build the best Rug Store in Delhi. I started working on the project and completed within a Year.

2003 The most talked about Rug Store in Delhi had a grand opening through me. What is next ?

I was eyeing to bring the World’s most sophisticate Carpet Company to India and initiated the meeting at the company’s Asia Head Quarter at Hong Kong.

2004 I was able to create a joint venture between my company and Tai Ping Carpets. Together we were able to conquer Indian market.

2006 I joined Tai Ping Carpets (Head Quartered in New York) as Director India and for the first time started operation in India for a Multi National Company.

2008 I was Promoted to Director South Asia

2010 When company achieved a 7 Million Dollar business from “0” in India, I decided to step out and open up a company which is My Company in True Sense.

2011 the Journey of INSIGNE CARPETS initiated and as C E O of this company my goal was to work less but create a happy team below me down the line.

When there is a difficult task, not doable by others or something which wants to go beyond boundary, across the Globe buyer looking for Insigne Carpets. We are at 2019 and going strong.