Raipur, July 16
In a time when younger generation does not want to take up traditional weaving profession, Bhuvan of Chhattisgarh is taking on the multinationals with his ‘desi’ skill of weaving and repaying the debt (lagaan) he owes towards his parents and motherland.
Bhuvan is a young weaver from Chhattisgarh’s Bilaigarh gram, who took up the challenge of inheriting his father’s profession of weaving and further polished his skill with a professional training he received at an institute “womenweave” at Maheshwar.
Chhattisgarh’s ‘Gramodyog’ department has played a significant role in shaping the skill of Bhuvan. It was the department officials who acquainted him with an institution in Maheshwar that provides professional training in weaving ‘free of cost’. Chhattisgarh’s handicraft department is helping weavers of the state to acquire training in modern techniques through ‘womenweave’.
So far, 10 students from Chhattisgarh have taken training under the institutes “certificate in design and enterprise management” one year course. At present, four students from Champa, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur and Balod have been taking professional training at the institute. The students also get a stipend of Rs 300 everyday.
Thanks to the initiative, Bhuvan is ready to fight all odds to continue with his craft of weaving fine ‘jala sarees’ and give a tough competition to corporate and multinational companies. Exhibition of his work at New Delhi’s R K Khanna tennis stadium from July 11 to 13, attracted a huge crowd of high profile visitors.
