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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
for such celebration of kite flying in Gujarat including one for welcoming the Sun which moves towards the North after 14th January every year. The kitcflying is traced to the pastimes of Nawabs and noblemen. In Gujarat the kites are manufactured by very ablc craftsmen who migrate annually from the North. Not only kites but the special thread immersed in glass-powder is a highly valued product in connection with the kite-flying. The beauty of kites lies in the way colour papers are cut into different slapes and pieced together. It is a very intricate art of joining the different pieces so that the joints are invisiblc. Kites of different shapes and kinds have different names. Similarly the ways in which battles for cutting others' kites in sky require special strategies. They have also different names. Shri Bhanu Shah who collected kites is a passionate lover of kites and kite flying. He created the unique muscum of kites and it was dedicated to the people of Gujarat. The unique muscum was situated in the building of Sanskar Kendra. It represents the heritage of Gujarat. The kitcs are tangible but a lot of intangible heritage is associated with the art of creating kites and flying them enthusiastically. The Kite Muscum is a people's muscum offering opportunities for people's participation. Audio visual mcans can be used to show kites, kitc making, kitc. flying in the Kite Muscum. It is related to a very popular pastime. Hence an exhibition ought to be organized at many places in Gujarat both in urban and rural areas.
A few days ago a news appeared in the Times of India Ahmedabad cdition, of 22nd Dec., 2001 under the heading "Vignettes of tribal life here evoke a feeling of humility." The text begins as follows "Verrier Elwin asked Nehru to define his tribal policy. Nehru reportedly replicd that "the whole of the Prime Minister of India's tribal policy can bc summed up in one word - lumility" ! The Tribal Museum of the Tribal Rescarch and Training Institute of Gujarat Vidyapith leaves one with this feeling of humility after secing the vignette of tribal life displayed therc. There are around 63 lakh tribals in Gujarat, belonging to 29 different tribes. The tribal belt in Gujarat starts at Khedbrahma and via the Panchmahals Bharuch and Dangs, ends at Valsad. There is scope for muscums in Gujarat to explain to the people the ccology and socio-political factors which are influencing the tribal ways. New muscological approach does not want tribals as "museum pieces" in their presentation as if thcy are not subject to changes from outside. This work requires constant update of data about the tribal groups based on round-the-year field work. The stereotypes in the minds of public should not be allowed to continue. In fact, representatives of tribals ought to be involved in the museum work related to tribals. The same can be said of many other groups identified in the "People of India" project which has dealt with 4635 communities inhabiting our country. The project has published a National List of Communities. The following communities are found in Gujarat according to the list :
ulas.cluirztais - 252.-14.-Eszt., 2001.6
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