All section Close
Image Credit- Twitter/ Pema Khandu, Unsplash
Arunachal Pradesh: 1000-Yrs-Old Paper-Making By Monpa Tribe Offers Alternative To Wood-Based Industry
Writer: Mrinalini Kaushik
She is a student of journalism, keen on learning new ways to unlearn, deconstructing news and life. Interested in exploring new media as medium is the message. Avid follower of sports and politics
Arunachal Pradesh, 15 Jun 2022 11:42 AM GMT
Editor : Shiva Chaudhary |
A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication with relevant skills, specialising in content editing & writing. I believe in the precise dissemination of information based on facts to the public.
Creatives : Shiva Chaudhary
A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication with relevant skills, specialising in content editing & writing. I believe in the precise dissemination of information based on facts to the public.
Wood-based paper production leads to deforestation, waste generation, and untreated sludge contaminating water bodies. In contrast, the indigenous process of paper-making by the Monpa tribe works as an alternative as it uses non-wood fibres.
The traditional hand-made paper-making process of the Monpa tribe belonging to Arunachal Pradesh got recognition as an alternative to the extensive wood-based paper industry. It was featured in a study published in the journal Frontiers.
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, tweeted, "I am so proud to note that the age-old practice of paper-making by Monpa tribe from the bark of a plant Daphne papyracea (known as the paper plant), has been scientifically documented in a prestigious journal."
I am so proud to note that the age-old practice of hand paper making by Monpa tribe from the bark of a plant Daphne papyracea (popularly known as paper plant), has been scientifically documented in a prestigious journal - Frontiers in Plant Science.👇https://t.co/MLgxxViRWh
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) June 6, 2022
Cultural Significance Of The Paper Plant
The Monpa hand-made paper has been traced back to around 1000 years ago as it had been a massive part of the local culture in Tawang, AP. It was their most significant source of employment, and the production level was high as it used to send its paper to countries like Bhutan, Tibet, Thailand, Japan, etc.
However, with the entry of cheap Chinese paper, production in the Tawang region declined. Though the Monpa tribe's paper-making was revived in 1994, people could not ignore the geographical disadvantage of Tawang as it was a hilly area.
Environment-Friendly Alternative
The paper industry usually makes paper from wood, one of the most significant contributors to a country's economy. However, the growing demand for paper has led to ecological hazards through deforestation, high energy consumption, and vast amounts of waste thrown into water bodies, degrading the environment.
The research paper titled 'Glycome Profiling and Bioprospecting Potential of the Himalayan Buddhist Handmade Paper of Tawang Region of Arunachal Pradesh' was published on May 23, 2022.
The researchers hypothesised that the particular paper-making had the potential to become a good source of paper that does not harm the environment drastically.
Process Of Paper-Making
Non-wood fibres are plant cellulose, most times the soft bark of the plants. These cellulose are further developed into the paper by scraping the outer layer of the bark, drying it for some days, and then boiling it in ash water to make it soft and beat it into a pulp and kill all bacteria.
The pulp is then fitted into bamboo nets or frames, uniformly spread, and then dried for two to three hours. Other non-wood fibres include hemp, bamboo, jute, sugarcane, etc.
Also Read: Government Launches 'Startups For Railways,' To Give Rs 1.5 Cr For Tech Ideas And Innovation
Must Reads
We are an independent and public-spirited digital media platform for Indian millennials. We report news and issues that matter as well as give you the opportunity to take action.
