UPSC Prelims 2015 Q96: Art & Culture – Festivals, Crafts & Folk Traditions
Kalamkari painting refers to
- (a) a hand - painted cotton textile in South India
- (b) a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North - East India
- (c) a block - painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India
- (d) a hand - painted decorative silk cloth in North - Western India
Answer: (a) a hand - painted cotton textile in South India
Explanation
Kalamkari painting
Kalamkari means 'pen work' (kalam = pen, kari = work).
It is a hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile of Andhra Pradesh.
| Style | Place | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Srikalahasti | Tirupati district | Hand-painted with a bamboo pen; temple themes from the epics |
| Machilipatnam (Pedana) | Krishna district | Block-printed; Persian-influenced designs |
Features: natural vegetable dyes; cloth treated with milk and myrobalan; many steps of washing and dyeing.
The options checked:
| Option | Verdict |
|---|---|
| (a) Hand-painted cotton textile in South India | Correct |
| (b) Handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India | Incorrect |
| (c) Block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region | Incorrect |
| (d) Hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India | Incorrect |
Answer: (a) a hand-painted cotton textile in South India.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Kalamkari is a hand-painted cotton textile of South India.
- (b) Incorrect. It is not a drawing on bamboo handicrafts of the North-East.
- (c) Incorrect. It is not woollen cloth of the Western Himalayan region.
- (d) Incorrect. It is not a silk cloth of North-Western India.
Key point
Kalamkari (Andhra Pradesh): cotton cloth painted with a pen at Srikalahasti or block-printed at Machilipatnam, using natural dyes; both have GI tags.
Remember
Kalamkari = pen-painted cotton, Andhra Pradesh.
Common mistakes
- Thinking Kalamkari is done on silk; the base is cotton.
- Mixing up the two styles: Srikalahasti is painted, Machilipatnam is printed.
- Placing it in Tamil Nadu or Kerala; it belongs to Andhra Pradesh.
Exam tip
Kalam = pen. A pen is used on cloth, and the cloth is cotton.
Sources
- Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles — Kalamkari
- Geographical Indications Registry — Srikalahasti Kalamkari and Machilipatnam Kalamkari