Craft as a Way of Life: Mala Burman of Kamrup
Mala Burman
The question this story follows:
“As Bihu-season demand sustains Mala Burman's craft through the year, can Assamese handcraft survive without a deeper shift in how India buys and values its artisans?”
Mala Burman makes gamcha, greeting cards, and handicrafts with five family members — but the young generation is walking away from the loom.
Mala Burman comes from the heart of Kamrup district, Assam — trained in handicrafts and designing, four years deep in her craft. She makes everything: greeting cards, gamcha, and a range of handcraft pieces. A gamcha takes two to three days of focused work; some pieces take nearly a month. Everything is priced from Rs 120 and above, and five people work alongside her.
Her sales spike at Bihu — the festival breathes life into her numbers — but once the celebration fades, demand drops. The economics of handcraft are unforgiving outside the festive calendar. More than the market, what worries Mala is the generation behind her. The young are walking away from the loom, drawn by screens and speed, finding the slow and meditative world of handcraft disconnected from their ambitions.
Her message to India is a plea: please let us come together and celebrate these crafts before they quietly disappear. Every purchase is a preservation. Every acknowledgement is a promise that this art will live on.
Updates
Episode 1: Mala Burman — Craft as a Way of Life in Kamrup
My name is Mala Burman. I come from the heart of Kamrup district, Assam — a land rich in tradition, colour, and the quiet hum of handlooms. Trained in handicrafts and designing, I have spent the last four years pouring my heart into every thread, every fold, every creation that leaves my hands.
I make everything — from delicate greeting cards that carry emotions across distances, to the beloved gamcha, that humble yet iconic piece of Assamese identity. Each craft piece demands patience and devotion; some take nearly a month to complete, while a gamcha takes two to three days of focused, skilled work. Prices start from Rs 120 and above.
Craft in our home is not just a livelihood — it is a way of life. Every member of my family is involved. Today, I am proud to have five people working alongside me.
But the challenges are real. Making the crafts is hard. Selling them is harder. Too often, we do not receive the true value of our work. The market blooms during Bihu — but once the celebration fades, so does the demand. And perhaps the deepest worry: the young generation is walking away.
So this is my message to India — please, let us come together. Let us celebrate, support, and sustain these crafts before they quietly disappear. Every purchase is a preservation.