“It’s a crime to wrap a child in polyfiber”: Sadhguru during interaction with Smriti Irani

“I am t against machines, I am t against industrialisation, but what is done with human hands has a certain aestic, has a certain beauty, uniqueness and above all is a human expression,” said Sadhguru, Founder, Isha Foundation, in a conversation with Ms. Smriti Irani, Union Minister of Textiles and Minister of Women and Child Development which was centered around breathing new life into India’s textile industries and reversing fortunes of indigeus weavers.

conversation, a part of In Conversation with Mystic series, was webcast live on 7 August to mark National Handloom Day. Sadhguru launched Save Weave last year, a campaign to revive and popularize India’s ancient weaves.

“I think that's where challenge lies,” Ms. Irani said referring to disconnect between handloom products, youth and modern markets. She said Textile Ministry is w in talks with big commercial brands like BIBA and Arvind Mills to promote handmade weaves. “We are appealing to people in commercial segment to source ir cloth directly from weavers, bringing about a synergy that was long absent,” she said.

Encouraging Indian Textile Industry 

Sadhguru spoke about need to encour Indian textile industry by introducing handloom products in schools, tourism circuits, and aviation industry. He also made a strong pitch for school uniforms to be made from handmade weaves of state. “It is a crime to wrap a child in a polyfiber. You do that to dead fish, t to living children. Especially a child's body is very vulnerable to this – both ir physical and psychological well being is impacted by polyfiber entering into ir system.” Minister who welcomed his remarks spoke about several vital changes Ministry has instituted to make weaving a commercially viable proposition for weavers.

“All of us kw struggles that Indian farmer has been going through for variety of reasons, but one fundamental reason is because farmers are completely invested in growing moculture, agriculture, and perishable items. By 2030, if 30% of land is dedicated to fibre cultivation, (it would be) a huge relief to farmer because w he has a product, which is t perishable where re is more opportunity to market it in a lucrative way,” Sadhguru explained.

Stating that “ nation, culture ever has come up with so many varieties of textiles,” Sadhguru spoke about India’s pride of place as primary supplier of textiles to world at one time. “Ancient India had pride of clothing  world. We have to bring back handweavers in a big way because it ( handloom industry) is second-largest employer next to agriculture. I think in many ways we will be presenting India in a much more aestic and sensible way, and also in a commercially sensible way.” 

Though government has invested Rs. 1300 crore for skill development in sector, Irani ackwledged that a lot remains to be done. “I'm conscious that much more needs to be done. We want to make handloom t only better designed but also better priced. Our endeavour is to also ensure it becomes an everyday, affordable article for more Indians so that our weavers get a bigger market.”

To mark National Handloom Day, Textile Ministry also unveiled its plans to develop 10 craft and handloom vills across country. government hopes to attract tourists to se vills to popularise products and help people discover rich legacy of Indian weavers.

Read: National Handloom Day: Amit Shah Lauds Modi Govt For Commitment Towards Weaver Community

Read: Kangana Ranaut, Sonu Sood And Ors Celebrate 'vocal4local' On National Handloom Day

(Im credit- Sadhguru/Facebook)