Introduction

Assam has an agrarian economy. Most of the activities of the people are deeply connected to the fields. As such bamboo has always been an intrinsic part of Assam’s socio-economic structure. Available in abundance, this species of grass has been used by the people of the region in innumerable ways. From being used for building homes, bridges, household products and even fancy decorative items, bamboo forms an integral part of the everyday living of the local community.

Let us study the craft of bamboo as practised by trained craftsmen of the northeast region. In this module, we will look at Bamboo craft, with special emphasis on its practice amongst the craft cluster in the two towns of Assam - Barpeta and Nalbari. We examine in detail the making of two traditional household products commonly used by the local community, the Khaloi and the Jakhoi.

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Different Kinds of Bamboo
Assam is rich in its forest resources. It is well known for its diverse variety of bamboo and cane species. The agro-climatic condition of the state and the abundance of bamboo in the forest make it a major source of raw material. It forms an integral part of the lifestyle and economy of Assam.

The forests of Mizo Hills, Cachar, Mikir and North Cachar Hills, Nowgong and Lakhimpur districts are rich in bamboo such as

• Muli (Melocannabambusoides)

• Dalu (Teinostachyumdalloa)

• Khang (Dendrocalmuslongispatnus)

• Kaligoda (Oxytenantheranigrociliata)

• Pecha (Dendrocalamus Hamilton) to name a few.