3 Review(s)

The role of a craftsman in India from times memorial was significant to display the grandeur and patronage shown by the feudal masters. This concise volume by Coomaraswamy describes the socio-economic, metaphysical, and supernatural aspects of the Indian guild community from the antiquity period. The present work discusses the three cat­egories of craftsmen – countryside, town, and palace-cum-temple to de­scribe the activities and conditions of Indian guilds. He covers the post-Vedic and Epic era from the time of sage Manu, the author of Manusmriti and classical Hindu epics like Ramayana, and mentions the presence of guild communities and craftsmanship from the Jatakas, and also in Abul Fazl's Ain-i-Akbari. The present work reflects the issues of casteism, re­ligion, and quality standards practiced by guild communities and how guilds were organized as per the societal norms in the past. Coomara­swamy also analyses the role of guilds and craftsmanship found in India and Ceylon. He also covers the training given to craftsmen to develop their skills, and artwork to avoid a surplus and deficit workforce. It also covers the measures, standards, and regulations adopted by Indian guilds.