Display typefaces based
on the rich living folk and indigenous craft tradition of South Asia and beyond

This film traces the significance and meaning of tattoos to the Baiga tribe in Central India, that is being practiced since ancient times—as has been archeologically proven through the discovery of similar symbols found on Palaeolithic and Chalcolithic cave walls. However, as the application and knowledge of permanent tattoos quickly start to vanish (even within the Baadi tattooist tribe) in less than a generation, The Typecraft Initiative explores the question whether value could be created through its transformation into a typeface that not only might engender literacy and pride within the community but, could also be made into a living repository of tribal knowledge. The typeface has embedded inside it tattoo motifs that are revealed if the user types certain words or phrases—that are important to the tribe. Words such as kumni or the fish-trap, used to catch freshwater fish, an essential source of protein (in ancient diets) as well as in the diet of the Baigas. Another tattoo—bakkhar or ploughshare used in agriculture once the Baigas moved from hunter-gatherers to food producers will also reveal itself if the keywords, "bakkhar" or "agriculture" are typed.

Typing the name of the Baiga tattoo in Gondi or English reveals the corresponding icon, if discretionary ligatures are turned on.

This video showcases the names of some of the prominent Baiga tribal tattoos rendered in a typeface that is made from the very tattoos made in collaboration of the Badnin tattooist women. The letters zoom in tto reveal a tattoo icon then zoom out to show the name of that particular tattoo motif in the Baiga tribal tattoo font.

This paper was presented during the online conference on Typography Day 2022 hosted by IDC School of Design (IDC), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Mumbai. This paper examines the work started a couple of years ago to make a teaching aid for primary school teachers using Hindi letters that are embedded with images that relate to the sound of the letter itself, made from Mithila folk art. More details at: https://www.typoday.in/2022/speakers.html Write to us at dsource.in@gmail.com

Handmade in India August 23, 2020, Sunday | 05:30 - 07:00 PM IST Artistic and functional, sustainable and sentimental, the range of India’s handicrafts are probably the most diverse not just from the artisan’s point of view but also by their connect to regional and spatial impulses. A glimpse of a few reveals this inherent nature. Special Guest:H.E. Smt. Suchitra Durai, Ambassador of India to Thailand Chair: Prof. Anjula Gurtoo, Professor, IISc (India) – Inspiration for Indian Crafts Historically Panelists: Shri. Ishan Khosla, Founder, Typecraft Initiative (India) – Branding Indian Craft Shri. Archish Mathe, Zishta, Traditional Kitchenware(India) – Science of Indian Cookware Shri. Sudhir Kasliwal, CFO, Gem Palace (India) – Indian Jewellery in Foreign Bazaars #Namaste2020 #Handmade #India