Handmade Paper Craft Murshidabad West Bengal

The handmade paper industry of Jiaganj and Azimganj in Murshidabad district, West Bengal produces rag paper and recycled cotton pulp paper for artists, calligraphers, and the handicraft industry. The Murshidabad paper-making tradition dates to the Nawabi period when the district was the capital of Bengal and had demand for high-quality writing and decorative paper. Artisans use traditional mould-and-deckle frames to sheet cotton and jute pulp into handmade paper sheets in various weights and textures. The paper is used locally for Madhubani and Kalighat painting, bookbinding, and diary making and exported for artist sketchbooks and fine art paper markets. Murshidabad artisan cooperatives organise raw cotton rag collection, pulp preparation, and supply to artists and craft exporters. The craft provides specialised employment for artisan communities.