Monpa Handmade Paper Revived

Monpa Handmade Paper, the thousand year old art of Arunachal Pradesh – which was driven to the extinction, has come to life once again, with the committed efforts of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The KVIC has commissioned a Monpa handmade paper making unit in Tawang.

Monpa Handmade Paper

• It is a fine-textured handmade paper, which is called Mon Shugu in the local dialect. It is integral to the vibrant culture of the local tribes in Tawang.
• The paper has great historic and religious significance as it was used for writing Buddhist scriptures and hymns in monasteries.
• It is made from the bark of a local tree called Shugu Sheng, which also has medicinal values.
• The paper had originated in China and gradually travelled to India. Monpa paper was earlier sold to countries like Tibet, Bhutan, Thailand and Japan.