: Jaipur Legend Turns 700-Year-Old Legacy Into 100% Natural Paper From Pine Needles #IndiaNEWS #Himachal Pradesh For almost 700 years, Badshah Miyan and his family from Jaipur have been creating wondrous

Jaipur Legend Turns 700-Year-Old Legacy Into 100% Natural Paper From Pine Needles #IndiaNEWS #Himachal Pradesh
For almost 700 years, Badshah Miyan and his family from Jaipur have been creating wondrous linen decorated with natural dyes and gold. In days past their clientele included royals like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Gayatri Devi Holkar.
Today, Badshah Miyan is a national award-winning artist in leheriya (tie and dye) who is keeping alive this traditional art using natural dyes extracted from flowers, leaves, and fruits to create fabrics and clothes for domestic and international customers.
But the Covid-19 pandemic has made him think differently and compelled him to switch to the local market and understand its needs.
Lockdown project
Badshah Miyan uses natural dye and ancient techniques to bring natural colours on fabrics
“The lockdown made everything shut down, and there was no business for months. I continued to get orders and inquiries, but business was not normal,??? Badshah Miyan says.
The artist said a few months ago, when the economy and borders started opening up slowly, he visited the National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD, Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.
“I keep delivering lectures to fashion institutes and colleges across the country and the world. That is how I am spreading knowledge and keeping the art alive,??? he adds.
But, a viable idea struck to him during this particular visit. “Pine needles are common in the area, and the students were making some jewellery and other artworks with them,??? he says.
Badshah Miyan wondered if the material could get used for multiple items, could it be used to make paper?
“People set many forest fires to make way for animals to graze in the forest. The fires get set to burn these pine needles fallen from pine trees. They prick the cattle and hence are usually burnt to clear the path,??? he explained.
Badshah Miyan felt if he could make something with them, he could have a new business and save the environment a little at the same time.
Pure natural product
Badshah Miyan poses with diaries and books made from natural materials
“We worked for six long months to create a perfect mixture of pine needles, banana fibre, jute and hemp to create a pulp that could get rolled into paper,??? Badshah Miyan says.
The artist says there was a lot of struggle with the lockdown and restrictions to work smoothly. “There was a limited set of people who could work at a time. There were a lot of trials and tests to make it successful,??? he said.
The paper had to undergo tests and certifications from various national bodies as well. “The environmentally friendly aspects need to match the strict norms laid by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). ???
Badshah Miyan said he was determined to make the paper entirely environment friendly.