Barpeta, Oct. 26: The Assam fireworks industry is following the adage "if you can't beat them, join them".
The fireworks manufacturers in lower Assam's Barpeta are producing new products similar to their more famous brethren of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu.
Though there has been a dip in the sale of China-made fireworks because of the call to boycott Chinese goods, those from Sivakasi continue to pose a threat to the local industry.
"Our handmade fireworks are bigger and better in quality than those imported from outside, particularly from Sivakasi. But our prices are on the higher side. We were losing out to Sivakasi due to higher prices as people prefer to buy crackers at cheaper rates," said Gopojit Pathak, president of the Barpeta Atasbazee Shilpa Samabay Samitee.
"To survive the onslaught, we have started manufacturing products similar to those made in Sivakasi," he added.
Pathak said the flowerpot crackers made in Barpeta are usually bigger in size and resemble an actual flowerpot while those made in Sivakasi are smaller and triangular in size.
"We have recently started manufacturing Sivakasi-like flowerpots to cater to local demand," he said.
The Barpeta manufacturers are also chalking out plans to take their traditional fireworks to other parts of the country. "We want to make our products available in metros like Calcutta and Delhi. For that, we are improving our finishing and packaging. We are doing the packaging at an offset printing press in Calcutta as such high-quality printing is unavailable in Assam," Pathak said.
The Barpeta manufacturers will meet the representatives of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) on November 4 to discuss strategies to take their fireworks to other parts of the country.
"We have recently got a logo for our fireworks industry, designed by the National Institute of Design in Jorhat, district industry centre of Barpeta and the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, which will give us a unique identity," he said.
The Barpeta fireworks industry provides livelihood to more than 2,000 people. Around 40 to 45 potter families are also involved in the trade.
Gopojit's grandfather Lakhiram had been inspired to make firecrackers after reading in 1885 a Chinese book on cracker-making techniques translated into Bengali. Satisfied with his work, Queen Victoria donated land to Lakhiram to ply his trade. In 1910, Pathak was awarded a licence from the British government to carry out his business.
The fireworks village, constructed recently by the Assam Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation in Barpeta district, has been a boon for the artisans as it was developed by strictly complying with norms.
