Page 181 - Cascade I SHPS School Magazine 2024
P. 181
loom popular at that time. It made the
livelihood of many Indians and expand-
ed the industry.
However, Imperial India, as it was
known in colonial times, faced a hit as
resources were continuously exported
to Europe.
Khadi is a handspun cloth made
from natural fibre. During the freedom
struggle, Gandhiji encouraged Indians
to boycott British goods and adopt
khadi as a form of protest. The cloth is
seen as ‘the fabric of freedom’ and was
a symbol of defiance against the British
rule. This movement succeeded in
India became more civilized some- bringing the industry back to life again
where along the 14th century. Under from continuous export and taxes.
the rule of monarchies, it saw the emer- The charka, where the cloth was spun,
gence of many crafts. became an heirloom of common
The origin of the Benares sari, one citizens that represented their self-
of the prime heirlooms of India, can be sufficiency. India has gone through many
traced back to the late 1300s, during advancements in this venture and has only
the Mughal period. Artisans from Be- expanded even while facing many
naras developed unique silk brocades threats.
using gold and silver threads that were However, recently due to urbanisation
renowned for their opulence. India was many of these heirlooms and the indus-
popular for textiles like these and the tries they were created in, workshops
attire was considered of royal standard. and places have been lost within the
pages of history due to not being passed
The weaving techniques used in these on, or simply due to the lack to of
saris have been passed down through comprehension of its significance. We
generations of skilled artisans, marking must be aware of its existence. Appre-
the start of the development of the heir- ciation for the sheer handwork of these
loom industries. heirlooms can stabilise India in our
The design and pattern of the jewellery minds.
worn by nobles and zamindars of They tell a story, from different parts
that period have also been replicated of India, at different times and state
through generations by various artisans the same message–The message of
and have promoted the growth of the perseverance.
heirloom industry Other heirlooms of India, such as the
In the 1600s, during the colonial Kanchipuram saree and the traditional
period, the East India Company arrived wooden instruments used to make it,
in India for the trade of raw materi- are a part of the glorious history of
als. They also exported vibrant clothes the heirloom industry. It has provided
that were available in India at that time livelihood to many people whose house-
such as the bandanna, another heir- holds depended on this art.
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