Starting Off...

After the initial conversations that I had with Bappaditya and his wife Rumi, I found myself in the midst of a lot of information I hadn't accounted for. As a result, I didnt know what had hit me, or where I was going! One thing was clear - I needed to take stock of the situation and I needed to do it fast, because otherwise the hysterics that were fast rising in my throat would get to me, after which all logic would fail!! So I made this chart. This is how I intend to work my information. I am using Bailou as a model, or an example of design intervention that has kept in mind the fundamentals of sustaining the craft. Understanding the organization in a systematic way, I feel, will give me a clearer picture on the effort that is being made from one who has an academic design background. Once I jot down all aspects of this level, I intend on going into the village, and doing a similar break-up of their rural set up. This, along with the information I hope to gain on the state of the craft before Bailou entered the scene, and the origins of it, will give me the base on which my document will be built.

So far I have dipped into the first level of this chart. I have started my cross-section of Bailou, and its departments in Kolkata and Phulia. I have been introduced to the Kolkata Team, and I will be starting my conversations with them from tomorrow. So here starts the Kolkata Journey. I'm going to stick to the theme and call them The Shafts. The Phulia 'gang', so to speak, shall be called The Shuttles. (I have a strong imagination, but thats as close to 'The Jets' as I can get in weaving terminology!!)

note to self: Perhaps I should illustrate it as I go along? I say this, because each conversation I have gives rise to really strong images in my head. Lets see... I'll keep this a thought bubble, and when the next image comes along, I'll try sketching it out. If it works - well – that’s a new aspect to the project right there!!