A Handspun Future -National Handloom Day And Towards a Progressive, Self-Reliant Tomorrow

The handloom industry has made commendable efforts to preserve indigenous national crafts. In a tribute that highlights the contribution of the handloom sector to India’s socio-economic development, Gajera Vidyabhavan celebrated National Handloom Day on 7th August, 2021.

The event has been significant for our educators who are beacons of illumination, inculcating the history of the Swadeshi movement for learners through the lens of the handloom industry owing to its crucial perch in the economic hierarchy.

About Handloom

Upholding the rich legacy of natural crafts, Gajera Vidyabhavan educators were able to enthusiastically involve learners in the history of handlooms through online classes.

The session consisted of structured parts featuring the definition of handloom – “a woven frame or loom used to weave fabric without harnessing electricity” and the consequent changes made to this widely used association through a 2012 improvisation that proposed handloom to be “any loom other than a power loom – that includes hybrid looms, on which at least one process of weaving requires manual intervention or human energy for production.”

The session also highlighted Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic ode that says – “Khadi is the Sun of the village solar system. The planets being the various industries which can support khadi in return for the sustenance they derive from it. Without Khadi, other industries cannot thrive.”

At Gajera Trust, our educators and learners – both echo and enliven these words of wisdom in hope of a future that is resplendent with indigenous art, craft and culture.

 About National Handloom Day Learners were encouraged to elucidate their thoughts on Khadi and other national crafts into drawings by educators who emphasized the importance of handloom and a need for its revival through National Handloom Day.
 Thanks to this celebration, educators, and learners at Gajera Trust now understand why 7th August holds a special significance in the history of India – especially for handlooms. It was in 1905 on 7th August, that the Swadeshi Movement acquired momentum. At its heart, the movement centred around the local economy, art and culture – all of which are commemorated as National Handloom Day since 2015 – inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister at Chennai. 
Why does the Handloom Industry deserve the spotlight?

The National Handloom Day celebration by Gajera Trust is an effort to make both educators and learners aware as well as support the heritage handloom industry into building sustainable livelihoods. This requires financial empowerment for our handloom weavers and workers as well as instilling a sense of self-pride. Some of Gajera Trust’s highlights for facilitating this change include: ●The handloom sector enables 4.53 million jobs and is the second largest source of employment in rural India

●As a sector, it directly addresses women’s empowerment with over 70% of all weavers and allied workers being female.

●Indian handlooms encompass a glorious national history of 100 years. It should be our endeavour to imbibe these artefacts in our daily lives and encourage artisanal employability.

●As more people awaken to the diversity and riches of Indian handlooms, our local weavers, artists and industries will culturally thrive.

Gajera Trust upholds a social responsibility to preserve and promote cultural legacy with the support of our educators and learners. Our celebration commemorating National Handloom Day culminated on a high note – with a showcase of our learners’ drawings and paintings in honour of handloom artisans.

Gajera Trust strongly believes that our ONE happy future lies in the hands of learners. We hope that our endeavours for curiosity will create a new generation of ambassadors of tomorrow.