Page 3 - Oct-Dec 2018

VOL. 15 No. 3

Wood Pages doWn The ages

Wood has played an important role in the history of civilization. Humans have used it for various purposes. Our
relationship to this resource has remained relatively unchanged, but there has also been a considerable widening in
the scope of its usage.

VedIC PerIod MedIeVAL PerIod

The Vedic people lived in close proximity to forests. The main building materials under the Delhi
The scholar Percy Brown says that the Timber Age in Sultanate were stone and timber. Tropical hardwoods
India went on for a really long time because of the were used to make traditional homes.
Mahavana or Great Forest which has been described India’s woodcraft history had its prime time during
in the epics. Wood was the first material that the the Vijayanagar Empire in southern India (1336 AD).
divine architect Visvakarma thought of using to Wood craftsmen were highly respected by the
create the universe. royalty. Under the Mughals, there was an
The quote in the Rigveda ‘Yatva sale nimimaya amalgamation of the job of the carpenter,
sa jambhava vamspatina’ hints that houses carver, and artist. These craftsmen created
were made of wood. the most amazing intricate wood carvings.

Modern PerIod

In many Princely States, such as
MAUrYAn PerIod Mewar, Hyderabad, Jammu and

Megasthenes, the Greek Kashmir, support for wooden
envoy, came to the court craft traditions and craftsmen
of Chandragupta Maurya at prospered. Under the British,
Pataliputra. He described the palace as having the focus was on developing
beautiful pillars of wood. transportation and hence wood was used for
railways, boats etc.
Till the advent of Ashoka (1500-300 BC), wood Many wooden traditions have continued till date.
was extensively used as a building material. The Artisans are still relying on wood for a number of
images of buildings that are carved in the reliefs their crafts. Architecture, too, at various regions
of Sanchi Stupa seem to be wooden too.
is mostly wooden.

DID YOU KNOW?
In ancient scriptures (6
th
ACTIVITY: TIPU's TIGer century), it is mentioned
Tipu Sultan had a wooden toy that symbolised his that a craftsperson would
enter the forest on an
patriotism, and his hatred for the East Indian Company. auspicious day to select
Design a unique tiger the best quality wood for
object of your own to their crafts.
bring out symbolism
– positive or negative.
Explain the symbolism
of your tiger.

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