Trump imposes a 50% tariff on Indian imports. 25% is effective already. 50% may take effect in another 21 days. The people of the US pay this tariff. Imports from India may get reduced. Trump’s meeting with Putin may change the entire scene. BRICS are also gearing up for this eventuality. Modi responded: India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers.
Bharat Ratna Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, 100 (7 August 1925 – 28 September 2023). The Recipient of 84 honorary doctorates, MSS, convocated me from IRMA. He has 254 papers to his credit. Leader, architect of green, evergreen revolutions in India. Recipient of the first World Food Prize. The prize money was used to set up MSSRF. His daughter, Nitya, was our co-alum at IRMA.
Handloom Day. Weaving. Handlooms. Chenetha. Weaving on a non-automatic loom, typically in a home-based setting, relying on human skill and craftsmanship. Method, weave, of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth – warp and weft/woof/filling. With or without looms. Plain, satin or twill weaves. Weaving includes three actions in a repetitive manner – shedding, picking, beating-up. One of the oldest and most vibrant cottage industries. It appears farming and weaving have co-evolved, some 15-20,000 years ago. Some 3.5M households are involved in this as weavers and allied workers. Mostly a family industry. Women play an important part. Range of fabrics: Cotton, Khadi, Jute, Linen, and Himalayan nettle; Silk – Tassar, Mashru, Mulberry. Eri, Muga, Ahimsa; Woollens include Pashmina, Shahtoosh, Cashmere, etc. Styles/traditions/weave patterns include: Tie and dye, Jacquard – Pochampally ikkat and double ikkat cotton-sico-silk, Kancheepuram (kanjeevaram), Sambalpuri, Bargad, Gadwal, Siddipet Gollabama, Dharmavaram, Mangalagiri, Venkatagiri, Uppada, Ponduru, Chettinad, Madurai, Mysore, Kasargod, Patola, Chanderi, Maheswari, Banarasi, Mirzapur, Bhagalpuri, Bomkai, Kunbi, PaithaniKotpad, Balarampuram, Jamdani, Baluchari, et al. 95%~ handwoven fabric of the world is made in India. Handloom Mark was launched in 2006. India Handloom Brand (IHB) was introduced for branding high-quality handloom products in 2015.
The steps in the weaving value-chain include: raw cotton/other material; ginning to separate fibres; carding, combing, and drawing; spinning into yarn; design – on paper, to onto warp and weft; warping, weft on spindles; weaving on the loom; finishing; and making the garment. There are families who do A to Z from production of raw cotton till the cloth/fabric, and garment. There are families who do a piece of work within the long chain.
Weaving is part of the portfolio of livelihoods in the family, with membership in a weavers’ cooperative. This weave is closely associated with Pochampally weave. Our UNDP Endogenous Tourism project at Pochampally is based on weaving, other crafts, and other livelihoods. This project established ‘live weaving’ museum, appreciating weaves across the country, weave documentation and videos, homestays in active weaving families, design support, weavers’ gurukulam, market support, e-market et al. Support to entire production to consumption value-chain of weaving. And the value-chains of other livelihoods products and services in and around Pochampally cluster.
Can we include handlooms in our clothing? Can we wear clothes without stitches, as monks do? Can we move to be in sync, in harmony with nature – life-living-food-farming?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Natural by default. In N? vyuthiyoga for 7L.