Share
Prof. T. Lanusosang , Pro Vice Chancellor of SASRD speaking at the National Handloom Day event at Medziphema on August 5.[/caption]
Dimapur, August 7 (EMN): National Handloom Day was observed with a program at the School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development (SASRD) at Medziphema, Dimapur, on August 5.
The event was organized by the directorate of Field Publicity Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Regional Office in collaboration with the SASRD and the Weavers’ Service Centre of the Ministry of Textiles.
Prof. T Lanusosang, Pro Vice Chancellor of SASRD was the chief guest of the programme, a press release from the organisers informed.
Addressing the event, the updates stated, the chief guest was stated to have said that handloom refers to a “loom which is operated manually to weave a fabric by interlacement of warp and weft yarn.”
‘Weaving is now considered as an art form, considering development of skills and knowledge,’ he said. “The weavers are known for their knowledge innovation and brilliance in designs. The handloom sector before the independence had a bearing on national activity and identified completely with Gandhi agenda. Handloom weaving and related activities were symbolic in the Indian Independence struggle.”
Mahatma Gandhi once commented that the spinning wheel was a ‘handmaid of agriculture’ and handloom the nation’s second lung. He considered the spinning wheel as a symbol of revolution, the organisers stated.
The handloom sector thus forms a part of the heritage of India and occupies the richness and diversity of the country and the artistry of the weavers. It has an important role in the country’s economy, as it is the largest economic activity after agriculture providing employment to thousands of unemployed or underemployed artisans particularly in rural areas.
According to the organisers, over 45 lakh people are engaged in handloom, weaving, and alliances in India, Prof. T Lanusosang mentioned. The first Handloom Day was observed on August 7, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai.
Since then, the country has been observing Handloom Day for it was on August 7, 1905, that Mahatma Gandhi launched the Swadeshi Movement. The movement involved boycotting of British products and revival of domestic products and production processes.
The speaker stated further that Nagaland was “known as the land of festivals is mostly known for the fact that it has quite a big number of tribes with their distinctiveness in the matter of culture and tradition.”
The handloom products of Nagaland found their way to the national and international markets thereby have to create awareness and preservation among the younger generation, the press release asserted. “The government needs to invest more in this sector especially in the rural areas by encouraging youngsters to go for traditional attires instead of clothing in western style,” the speaker stated.
The resource person for the programme was ST Subramanian, deputy director of the Weavers’ Service Centre. He explained the role and ‘functions’ of textiles. Further, the resource person gave a PowerPoint presentation about the handloom industry in India. The programme also witnessed a quiz competition on Handloom of India.