WESTERN INFLUENCES ON EMBROIDERY AND HANDIWORK OF PUNJAB

ABSTRACT

In Punjab the shift of power from the Sikh rule to the East India Company came about in 1849 when the Sikh kingdom was annexed and the entire Punjab came under British India. Thereafter, British Raj continued for almost a hundred years bringing stability to the region and by interaction with the Europeans at various levels, people’s way of dressing, their lifestyle and food habits changed dramatically forever.

One of the most dramatic changes that took place in living in Punjab was when European style elevated furniture came into homes of not only the Maharajas but also those of ordinary people.

With increased Westernization and changed living styles as European type furniture found place in many homes, need then arose to use articles of household linen like it was done in European homes. Household articles that were never used in Indian homes became the norm in the modern homes of Punjab. As the availability of these in the market was limited, most women in Punjab embroidered their own, incorporating European styles, colours and motifs.  Women from cities as well as villages did these embroideries.

The three popular handiwork of the early twentieth century Punjab were the dasooti, bharnvi and crochet. Other embroideries with Western affiliations included white-work, cutwork; beadwork, net embroidery and ribbon work, though they were not as popular as the ones mentioned above.

It is these styles that were popular in Punjab that I am going to cover in my lecture for the TCRC seminar.