Page 175 - SocialHarmony

Kite Flying: An Attempt Towards Social Bonding 179

approach for kite-making. They stick the patches of printed
papers on the kite to make it colourful. Instead of that, if we get
multi-coloured paper to make the kites, it would save a lot of
time and energy. The kite paper could be made with different
colours and designs. Secondly, publicity is vital. We live in the
age of advertisement and promotions. Kites can be a very good
medium for advertising. The kite-maker would get the
advantage of the advertising and it can also be a medium of
education. Earlier, we did the polio vaccination advertisements
on kites. Moreover, group education can also be done by kites.
I appeal to the professionals to carry out concrete research in
this area, so that income can be increased in the kite industry.

We badly need changes in two other fields. We find that
even today, the firkis are made in the same old style. Why can
we not modernize the firkis? They should be made so attractive
that people would want to take a picture of it. Modern art experts
should think over this. There are so many things in this country
that need changes. We can always create the best from waste.
Similarly, we have workers from Uttar Pradesh who dye the
threads of the firki. We can make it well-managed. They currently
use glass powder in order to make the thread sharp. We can
use some chemicals instead of glass powder. We can try new
methods to dye the thread. A good market has to be created for
kite thread too. I remember, earlier, only ‘Kelico’ was popular;
‘Saankal’ brand was equally good. We can create and develop
the market for kite threads. The most fascinating part of kite
flying is to beat the other flyers by cutting their threads and in
turn making them lose their kites. This is all in good spirit. This
spirit of sportsmanship is seen only in Gujarat.

If we use modern and scientific techniques in the kite
business, it could solve the issue of the livelihood of one lakh
families. Some of the families could even rise above the poverty
line through smooth business management. The State
Government has started labour wages plan. It is a
supplementary effort to bring up people living below poverty
line. The kite industry can prove to be essential for it. We want
to develop the kite business so that the people in this business