Jiten Bora: Keeper of the Cane — Ten Years of Crafting Bags from Assam's Forests

My name is Jiten Bora, and I come from the heart of Assam — a land where rivers run wide and traditions run deeper. I am a craftsman, but more than that, I am a custodian of something precious: a skill passed down through my family, generation after generation, carried forward not in books or blueprints, but in hands.

I work with cane — or as we call it in Assamese, baat. It is one of nature's most honest gifts. Flexible yet strong, simple yet beautiful. From this humble material, my hands shape an entire world of products — bags, laptop bags, shopping bags, and much more. Every piece tells a story of patience, precision, and pride.

The Craft

The raw cane I work with travels to me from the lush landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh, Shillong, and Assam — sourced from places where nature is still abundant and generous. Once the material arrives, the transformation begins. Depending on the size and intricacy of the piece, each item takes shape within a single day — a testament to the skill and fluency that only years of practice can bring.

I have spent 10 years in this craft. Not as a hobby, not as an experiment — but as a calling.

What Makes It Special

In a world flooded with plastic, synthetic materials, and mass-produced goods, my products stand apart for one simple reason: they are 100% natural. No chemicals. No harmful materials. No side effects — for the buyer or for the earth. What you hold in your hands is pure craft, pure nature.

Prices range from just ₹40 to ₹1,000, making these beautiful, sustainable pieces accessible to everyone.

The Struggle

Despite a decade of dedication and a product that the world increasingly needs, the road is not without its hardships. The most pressing challenge today is the absence of a platform — a space to showcase this work to the wider world, to reach buyers who would truly value what they see. Support from the government has been limited, leaving artisans like me to navigate the marketplace largely on our own.

But the craft endures. Because some things are worth fighting for.

The Promise

I will pass this skill on to my children — just as it was passed on to me. Not as a burden, but as a gift. A living thread that connects our past to our future. As long as there are hands willing to learn and hearts willing to carry it forward, the art of baat craft will never fade.

This is not just my livelihood. This is my legacy.

Handcrafted in Assam. Rooted in tradition. Built to last.