The bustling streets of Old Delhi were once a home to scores of adroit men and women whose souls reverberated with the art that they had inherited through generations. One such art form that flourished on the Urdu Bazaar road was Arabic and Urdu calligraphy, popular by the name of Kitabat. The art that once echoed the glory of Indian culture is dying a silent death, struggling to find an existence in the modern era of digital printing. Consequently, many Katibs or Urdu calligraphers switched to other professions to earn a living and those who still continue as practitioners are rendered jobless for days.
Project Kitabat, an initiative by Enactus NSUT, recognised the need to preserve and foster an integral part of the Indian culture and history and to uplift these Katibs from the hapless circumstances. The initiative aims to revive the dying art of Urdu calligraphy and to regenerate its lost value by making it relevant to the contemporary times.
To create a high-demand market for our Katibs, items of everyday utility like wall decors, t-shirts, envelopes and badges have been blended with the art to suit consumer interests. Contrary to their traditional sales channels, online platforms including e-commerce websites like Etsy have redefined the way this art reaches to the commoners. Sales are also facilitated through active social media handles of Kitabat.
The reach of offline channels has also increased manifold through setting up of stalls at various college fests and cultural festivals. Stalls set up at the Urdu Heritage festival and Jashn-e-Rekhta have provided the much-needed exposure to our Katibs through live calligraphy and product sales. The rudimentary aim of popularising the art form is kept alive by releasing regular informatory posts through our social media handles and newspaper coverage including The Times of India and The Culture Gully. Collaborations with various government institutions and NGOs like Purani Dilli Walo Ki Baatein have helped us to provide a constant income source to our Katibs. Our efforts were also acknowledged by Qamar Dagar, a globally renowned calligrapher who signed up as a project mentor.
Starting with just one Katib, we now have five katibs- Mohd. Ghalib, Ameen Ur Rehman, Shamim Ahmed, Syed Sallauddin and Anis Siddiqui (Father of Urdu Calligraphy) whose lives have been impacted by our project. With our assistance, these Katibs now organise workshops in cafes like Kunzum Travel Cafe, Greenr Cafe, etc and impart their skills to the upcoming generation. These workshops will also be organised in schools and madrasas to tap potential calligraphers in the near future. Short-term, recognised courses have also been developed for learners so that they can transform their calligraphic skills into a full-fledged profession.
As confident teachers, independent entrepreneurs and active propagators of the art, our Katibs have found a reason to take pride in their magnificent creations. Project Kitabat is glad to be a catalyst of change in their lives and aspires to continue with the good work.