The Handmade Paper Institute (HPI) of Pune, India was once a glorious testament to the beauty and power of handmade paper. An idea conceived by none other than Mahatma Gandhi, it was meant to serve as a source of both eco-friendly paper as well as employment for the Indian community; and serve it did, exporting 500 varieties of beautiful, elegant handmade papers to at least 75 countries.
But today, the Institute is struggling.
73 workers have been laid off, and though the HPI is considering bringing them back on, it will only be able to do so at half the rate it had previously paid them.
Though the HPI has served as an important paper producer for India itself–the draft of the country’s own constitution was printed on paper manufactured there–80% of its products are exported. From watermark papers to drawing varieties, diamond papers to elephant, flower petal and silk papers, and even paper bags and folders, the HPI covers most, if not all, paper products on the market.
According to the assistant manager of the HPI, it also does this in a very eco-friendly fashion. “Instead of wood, we use cotton and currency wastes as raw material, thereby being completely eco-friendly.”
There are disputes as to why the hardship has fallen upon the manufacturer, ranging from management negligence (according to workers) and lack of funds and business (according to management). Knowing how difficult the economy is today in many countries, either party could be right; but the bottom line is that a place where great art and sustainable creation have taken place since 1940 is now declining.
Tags: handmade paper, handmade paper institute, homemade paper, india, mahatma gandhi