The traditional Himalayan paper industry
is known by different names. The Tibetans call is Tibetan paper, Gorkha
people call it Gorkhali paper and the rest of the Himalayan region call
it the Himalayan paper, but whatever it may be called, the industry has
a close connection with the people and calls it by the names they
prefer. The entire Himalayan region is closely connected to the paper
and there is a sense of ownership among everyone.
The Himalayan paper industry in the
hills first started in Kalimpong and has its own little history. As soon
as one talks about the paper one will find a whiff of Kalimpong’s air
in it because such industries have always been supported here. The
geographical location, history and the people have always been
associated with such industries here.
The paper is crisp and white as any
other normal papers, but in comparison to any other white paper the
Himalaya paper is much more durable and valuable. Normal white papers
are used for normal books and other usual utilities. However, due to the
texture and durability of the Himalayan paper, it is basically used for
religious manuscripts and other such usage that needs durability.
In Kalimpong, Himalayan papers are being
manufactured since the past three decades and two such cottage industry
is run by a Bhutia Family. ST Bhutia runs a paper factory at Primtam
Road in the town, while his brother runs a similar factory at the SUMI
area. ST Bhutia has been running the factory in Primtam Road since 1992
and has been producing Himalayan papers until today. Running under the
name of Gyazong Paper Industry, Bhutia caters to the paper’s demand from
Sikkim and Bhutan. The factory also provides employment to eight
different family and according to Bhutia the industry is a family run
business.
Bhutia informed he gained the knowledge
about making such papers through a Japanese video documentary and with
practice he mastered the art and has not looked back ever since. He said
the key to the industry’s survival is the raw material used, and
Kalimpong and surrounding areas have abundant supply of such material.
Bhutia’s Primtam Road factory currently produces 200-300 sheets per day.
Most of the sheets goes to the natural paper market of Sikkim and
Bhutan, while some of them are used in other parts of the hills.
Although the industry is limited in the
hills, its potential is high due to the easy availability of the raw
materials and the available market in Sikkim and Bhutan along with other
areas. The Industry like any other cottage industry in the hills does
not have a support from the government. Bhitia said he too had applied
for help from the government but it never materialised. Moreover the
process and procedure required to avail government help is lengthy and
difficult, he added. He says he is satisfied with what he has now and
does not need any support.(EOIC)