Musings on the Dayalbagh Manufactures Exhibitions

In the last few weeks many Satsang Branches have sent lovely photographs of the

Dayalbagh Manufactures Exhibitions

in their Cities. Some very beautifully arranged displays!

Display at the Exhibition in Gurgaon on 2-3 September, 2017

I thought it will be very interesting to take you back by almost a century when these Dayalbagh Manufactures Exhibitions started, usually as part of larger Industrial exhibitions. The objectives of cottage industries/ manufacturing were clear right from the beginning. Dayalbagh wanted to provide an avenue for people to make an honourable living (better worldliness), move Indian manufacturing forward with technology as an enabler, and provide high quality goods at reasonable prices.

There is so much that I can share from Dayalbagh Literature, so much foresight… I have picked up a few excerpts from “Writings and Speeches of Param Guru Huzur Sahabji Maharaj (1928 – 1937), First Edition” for your perusal.

Dayalbagh Manufactures Exhibition Display in Pune on 7-8 Oct, 2017

Excerpt 1:

Thoughts from Revered Sir Anand Sarup ji after the last meeting of the sub-committee of the board of Industries, U.P. that was appointed to go into the question of resuscitating and developing the languishing cottage industries (textile and others), of the Province, held on 5th April 1930.

“The question now arises whether there are any means by which the industry can be made to stand on its legs again. People suggest that if cooperative or commercial societies are established in important weaving centers, they will do a lot to help it. Without doubt, it is an excellent suggestion, and, if carried to effect, it will enable the weavers to get the yarn they require at a reasonable price and to dispose of their products at reasonable rates. Besides, they will be saved from financial difficulties inasmuch as they will not have to keep any large stock of yarn or cloth with them.

Another way to help the industry is by encouraging the weavers at important centers to adopt modern designs. The world is mad after fashion, and unless the weavers are made to break their conservatism, there can be no harmony between the demand and supply.

But, in my opinion, the best way to help the industry is to introduce power looms in the homes of our weavers…”

Pamphlet of the NOIDA Exhibition held on 7-8 Oct 2017

Excerpt 2:

Moving on to 1931, an excerpt from the Thanksgiving Speech by Revered Sir Anand Sarup ji, thanking Dr. Gokul Chand Narang, Minister for Local Self Government in the Government of Undivided Punjab, at the Dayalbagh Manufactures Exhibition at Lahore.

“The words of encouragement that you have so kindly spoken will, I can assure you go a long way to hearten our workers at Dayalbagh, and I can promise that every one of us will do his best to make ourselves deserving of the high praise that you have been pleased to bestow upon us.”

Exhibition Volunteers being served lunch by the Lunch Volunteers in NOIDA

Excerpt 3:

Moving on to Revered Sir Anand Sarup ji’s speech in 1934, where He inaugurated “The Tinnevelly (as I suppose Tirunelveli was called then) Swadeshi Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition” in which Dayalbagh was requested to participate in.

“… The members of the “Buy India” League, therefore, deserve to be congratulated on the wisdom and enterprise they have been showing for the last several years in rousing their countrymen from their long-drawn sleep and showing them the path of duty. It now remains for the public to appreciate their patriotic efforts and reward them with their mead of praise.”

Dayalbagh Manufactures Exhibition in Chennai on 27-Aug-2017

Excerpt 4:

Moving onto 1935, where “Memorandum on Dayalbagh”, a supplement to the Dayalbagh Herald was published on April 15th.

“There are at present 50 industries in Dayalbagh… The following is a complete list of the various branches of our industries:

1. General Factory

(a) Gramophone Branch (b) Metal buttons and rings (c) Electroplating (d) Painting (e) Carpentry (f) Smithy (g) Moulding (h) Door-fitting (i) Motor car and bicycle accessories (j) Platform weighing scales (k) Lamp stands and lanterns (l) Flour-mill (m) Oil pressing

2. Science Instruments

(a) Science instruments for Schools and Colleges (b) Dissecting and Drawing sets (c) Botanical and Zoological models (d) Laboratory and dispensing balances and weights

3. Stationery

(a) Fountain pens (b) Gold, steel and brass nibs (c) Cutlery (d) Ink and pastes

4. Electric Goods

(a) Electric fans and motors (b) Miscellaneous Electric goods (c) Electric and other clocks

5. Textile

(a) Wool spinning (b) Wool weaving (c) Cotton and mercerized weaving (d) Silk weaving (e) Washing branch (f) Dyeing branch (g) Ribbon weaving (h) Hosiery and under-wear (i) Blanket and shawls (j) Aerograph and block printing (k) Embroidery

6. Leather Goods Factory

(a) Footwear (b) Other leather goods (c) Card-board boxes

7. Tannery

(a) Chrome-tannery

8. Dairy

(a) Dairy (b) Irrigation

9. B.M. Works

(a) Cement and other tiles (b) Brick-field

10. Miscellaneous

(a) Toys (b) Disinfectants (c) Soap (d) Casein and casein products

11. Jewellery

(a) Silver chain (b) Gold ornaments

12. Printing

(a) Type printing press

13. Garden

(a) Fruit garden (b) Vegetable garden

…The profits from the industries are, in the main, passed on to the educational institutions of the Colony. …Besides the sums, the Sabha paid Rs… to the Dayalbagh Hospital and orphanage…

…But, unfortunately, very few people in India really care for the development of industries. The majority of the people are of the opinion that, India being primarily an agricultural country, the solution to its unemployment cum poverty problem lies in the improvement of its agriculture and dairy farms. But this is an absolutely wrong notion. Improved agriculture will no doubt result in increasing the agricultural output of the country, but who is going to buy in the increased output? It is sure to aggravate the troubles of the poor agriculturist unless arrangements are made to raise the price of the agricultural products…”

Footwear Stall at the Dayalbagh Manufactures Exhibition in Gurgaon

Excerpt 5:

Finally, a note that appeared in the Lucknow exhibition supplement of the Pioneer dated January 17, 1936.

“The stall of the widely known Agra institution, DAYALBAGH, is a large one packed with the most varied products, stressing the versatility of the institution’s members. Here are to be seen laboratory balances and weights, fountain pens, nibs and inks, gramophones, platform weighing machines, electric clocks, A.C. motors, ceiling and electric table fans, footwear and leather goods, silk, cotton and woollen cloth, butter and cream, cheese and a host of other articles as divers and as well finished as the best imports from overseas. The institution undertakes repairs to the most delicate laboratory and hospital apparatus, and is a large importer of chemicals, scientific instruments and chemical and glassware for laboratories and educational institutions.”

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So much foresight, a rich history and legacy behind what we do today. Here is to “Keep living up to this legacy and Building further on it”. Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali and Happy “Quality and Values” Day.

The post is by Anurag Singh, Editor, Sigma Six Q Blog.