In the passage about “Chikankari – A Lucknawi Tradition”, how is the book best described in relation to the art of chikankari?

Introduction / Context:
This question asks you to characterise Paola Manfredi’s book “Chikankari – A Lucknawi Tradition” in terms of its nature and purpose. The passage makes an important distinction between formal scholarly research and the kind of work Paola has done. It explicitly states how she herself describes the book and what it aims to do with respect to the world of chikankari. Understanding that nuance is essential to choosing the correct option from the list.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage states that Paola’s book is “not a scholarly or academic research”. • It also says that it is “more of a documentation of the world of chikankari.” • The question asks: “The book ... is best described as a ____________ the art of chikankari.” • The options include phrases like “documentation of” and “academic research on”.

Concept / Approach:
Because the passage clearly contrasts academic research with documentation, the correct answer must match this wording. It states that the book is more about documenting the craft at the grass-roots level through personal journey and fieldwork rather than composing an academic thesis. Therefore, among the options, “documentation of” is the only phrase that exactly reflects the description given in the text. The other options may sound academically respectable but directly contradict what the passage says about the nature of the work.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall the part of the passage that explains how Paola sees her own book. 2. Identify the key line: “As Paola says in the book, it is not a scholarly or academic research but more of a documentation of the world of chikankari.” 3. Note that this directly uses the phrase “documentation of”. 4. Compare the answer choices, focusing on which one matches the passage exactly. 5. Select “documentation of” as the correct completion of the sentence in the question.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you test “academic research on” or “dissertation on” against the passage, you see an immediate conflict. The text explicitly denies that the book is scholarly research, so choosing those would go against the author’s own description. “Report on” is a generic term that lacks the specific flavour of the word “documentation”, which emphasises a detailed record based on observation and experience. Since the passage uses “documentation” as the key term and repeats this idea of recording the world of chikankari at the grass-roots level, it is clear that “documentation of” is the best and most faithful description.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• “academic research on” is explicitly rejected in the passage, which says the book is not academic research. • “dissertation on” suggests a formal thesis, typically for a degree, which the passage never mentions. • “report on” is too general and does not capture the specific idea of long-term, detailed documentation expressed in the passage.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes assume that any serious book about an art form must be “research” or a “dissertation” and therefore pick the most academic-sounding option. This is a trap when the text explicitly denies that label. Always trust the author’s or narrator’s direct characterisation over your assumptions. Key phrases like “not X but more of Y” should guide you to reject X-type options and choose Y-type options when they appear in the answers.

Final Answer:
The book “Chikankari – A Lucknawi Tradition” is best described as a documentation of the art of chikankari.