Providing Technology and Research for Turning Waste into Paper

Research and Technology Support at Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, Jaipur for Hand-Made Paper Production Units

Dastkari Haat Samiti

Dastkari Haat Samiti

Detail of handmade paper after marbling (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

Evolution of Hand-made Paper making in India

Archaeological finds at Gilgit in the Baltistan area indicate paper was used in the Himalayas in 6th century AD. In the 8th century a Sanskrit dictionary gives translations for both the Persian and Chinese words for paper. Muslim invasions into India began in the 11th century, bringing with them evidence of paper used for manuscripts. These manuscripts were in a long oblong format either piled together with firm top and bottom slats to sandwich them, after which they were tied with string. Palm leaf or birch bark manuscripts had holes punched on the left side through which a strong string was passed through to hold the scripted sheets together. Later, some were given decorative borders. Islamic and Jain manuscripts became elaborate with illustrations.

Table top lamp with handmade paper cut design and calligraphy (1905-07-02) by Dastkari Haat SamitiDastkari Haat Samiti

Paper as a material for religious scripts, office decrees, courts and administrative work became the norm between the 10th and 13th centuries. Kagaz, the Persian word for paper, was adopted as the word for paper in India.

Small hamlets called kagzipura, paper town, were established, one of which survives by the same name in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, where a Muslim community continues to make paper by hand even in 2018. Handmade paper manufacturing establishments of different sizes are located in Sanganer, the biggest paper making centre in western India.

Assorted stationery (2018-06-01) by Elrhino Eco Industries Pvt. Ltd.Dastkari Haat Samiti

After India gained Independence from British rule, Mahatma Gandhi vigorously promoted traditional village industries of which handmade paper making and khadi, hand-spun and hand-woven cloth, were of primary concern to him.

Apart from sustaining livelihoods, the purpose was to fight the domination of machine-made goods that harmed the environment and killed self-reliant local enterprises.

Leaf - impressioned handmade paper in the making (2018-06-01) by Elrhino Eco Industries Pvt. Ltd.Dastkari Haat Samiti

Mahatma Gandhi’s friend and economic advisor J.C Kumarappa, India’s first Chartered Accountant, helped formulate his economic approach.

Today, the J. C. Kumarappa Research Institute near Sanganer in Rajasthan, has found nearly 40 different waste materials that can produce paper, including damaged currency notes.

Entry gate of KNHP Institute (2018-05-01)Dastkari Haat Samiti

Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute

On the wide wall at the entry gates of the Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is an unmissable message in Hindi asking everyone to save trees by using handmade paper. It is the only institute of its kind in Asia, established in 1994, researching the possibilities of using all kinds of alternate materials to make paper by hand.

Laboratory assistant with testing materials (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

Work at the KNHPI’s well-equipped laboratory extends to examining the techno-economic feasibility of each sample.

It assists in setting up pilot plants and conducts training, along with organising promotional programs and participating in major paper trade fairs.

Man with laboratory pulp presser (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

A technician operates a small press to make a flat circular piece out of pulp from the material being tested.

Samples of palm leaf handmade paper (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

What comes out of the press in a circular form is dried and tested for various properties. They are fixed on a board in rows in their laboratory.

Around 40 diverse fibres and other organic materials have been tested already. Many of these have been taken up for production by various agencies.

Banana fibre in two stages with resulting paper (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

Banana fibre in different stages of preparation, and the paper made from it after bleaching at the KNHPI. This paper, when laminated, resists decay from moisture, fungus or insects like silver fish.

Assorted raw material for handmade paper (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

Mustard sticks, Endo-cocoon silk pulp, Palm leaf, Bamboo, Jawar (sorghum flour) and Sisal are some of the alternate materials tested and found suitable for making paper.

Packets of hosiery waste (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

The most commonly used raw material for making paper by hand is hosiery waste, whether coloured or white. This is always available in bulk from hosiery garment factories located in the textile production areas in India.

Hosiery waste is nearly always mixed with other fibres or animal dung.

shredded currency notes (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

This somewhat unidentifiable material is a heap of shredded Indian currency notes. Old notes are exchanged for new ones at banks and even on the streets of Indian pavements where entrepreneurs exchange them at a small premium.

When the government demonetizes certain currency notes, a large quantity is made useless for anything but recycling.

Currency note and waste material (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

When the Indian government announced demonetization in November 2016, a certain
denomination became redundant.

A pile of such shredded notes lies beside a newly minted two-hundred rupee note.

File cover, block and waste material (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

The Reserve Bank of India, which controls the minting and printing of currency sends blocks of shredded notes from its Jaipur Branch to the KNHPI for conversion into file covers for use in its offices.

It prints this information on the covers of the files to inform users about recycling.

Sample of cow dung handmade paper (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

Cow dung has uses in rural India. Conversion into paper is an additional benefit not foreseen by cattle owners.

Sample of jute tissue paper (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

Jute tissue paper is unique as it is originally a tough, coarse fibre that has been made sheer while retaining its strength simply through the processes of making handmade paper.

Sample of pineapple fibre paper (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

Pineapple fibre has been used for textile weaving in S. Asian countries. The Institute in Jaipur demonstrates its possibilities as paper.

Worker showing marbled handmade paper (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

A worker at the Institute shows how ‘marbled’ paper is created when colours have been mixed into the pulp.

Testing machines at KNHPI institute (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

A variety of equipment in the Institute’s testing room checks small circular discs of different papers for stiffness, tensile strength, tear strength, extent of possibilities for commercial use and other properties.

There is brightness tester, wet strength tester, a Klemn absorbency tester, bursting strength tester, dimensional stability tester and others, all ensuring that the paper is well certified before production takes place on a larger scale.

Electrical Box with Gandhi sketch (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

Even while a formal a formal government-circulated photograph of Mahatma Gandhi adorns the inner entrance of the KNHPI, an odd sketch of him by an unknown artist appeared pasted on an electrical metre box.

But for Gandhi, the skill of handmade paper making would have died a quiet death by the time India was free from colonial rule.

Textured handmade paper (2018-05-01) by Kumarappa National Handmade Paper InstituteDastkari Haat Samiti

The textures of rejected papers that remain after experimentation and production have a beauty of their own.

Colours sheets of handmade paper in Sikkim (2018-06-01) by Borong-Polok Handmade paper unitDastkari Haat Samiti

Read more about handmade paper industry here:
-Production

Products
Credits: Story

Text: Jaya Jaity
Photography: Chirodeep Chaudhuri, Subinoy Das, Charu Verma, Rajeev Kumar,
Artisans: Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute, Salim Kagzi,Vijender Singh Shekhawat, Mahesh Bora, Borung-Polok, Jamyang Dorjee, Rajeev Kumar, Qamar Dagar, Irshad Hussain Farooqi, Ram Soni
Ground Facilitator: Jaya Jaitly, Charu Verma, Subinoy Das
Documentary Video: Charu Verma, Chirodeep Chaudhuri, Subinoy Das, Jaya Jaitly
Curation: Ruchira Verma


Read more about handmade paper and calligraphy here:

-Rajasthan Story
-Assam Story
-Sikkim Story
-Calligraphy in Sikkim
-Rajeev Kumar
-Qamar Dagar
-Irshad Farooqui
-Sanjhi

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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