Last week I had a fantastic Zoom meeting with Rubi and Arup Rakshit in Purulia, up in northern Bengal. – also with my organiser Joji. Since 2010 they have run a not-for-profit organisation that focuses on first generational weavers, spinners and natural dyers (MGGSS). I will be staying with them for some days – learning and watching, as well as sharing my weaving and dyeing experiences.
In contrast to Rajib who is a generational weaver – his great-great grandfathers were royal weavers going back 7 generations – the “new” artisans in Purulia are just learning their craft in this generation. Guided by a master weaver from Kalna, they learn the traditional arts of spinning fine cotton and weaving muslin and jamdani. This is a really important organisation as it gives the youth and future generations a purpose and chance to find their calling. They become proud of their life and their place in society. Many of the youth leave the villages and go work in factories in large cities – abandoning their families and children to earn money.
Tribal people are very much connected to nature and calling them to cities for business is not a solution. Most of them fall ill when they have to stay in urban areas for prolonged periods of time. By teaching and guiding, the villagers can become independent, earn money and own land, have better health and regain hope. Not only does the facility at Purulia teach the traditional skills, they have also developed a platform for the villagers to sell their handwoven products throughout India, and learn marketing skills. This is valuable as the villages are often remote, and their inhabitants do not have experience outside their own tribe.
I am super excited to visit and work with the artisans and villagers in Purulia and hope to learn further jamdani and muslin weaving techniques, as well as further my natural dyeing skills.
