Page 38 - Mann Ki Baat English

From Grass to Glory

Redefining Handloom & Handicrafts

The fabric of India’s cultural heritage is woven on the handloom
and coloured by the hands of its artisans. For centuries, this sector has
been the custodian of a living, breathing legacy, embodying the soul
of its diverse communities. Yet, for a period following Independence,
this luminous tradition faced the threat of obsolescence, its charm
dimmed by the glare of mass-produced goods. Today, however,
a profound renaissance is underway, a movement that is deftly
redefining this sector by fusing profound tradition with contemporary
innovation, thereby guiding it from humble grass to unparalleled
glory.
The philosophical cornerstone of this revival is the enduring principle
of Swadeshi, so passionately championed by Mahatma Gandhi. For
Gandhi ji, Khadi was not merely a cloth; it was a fabric of self-reliance, a
symbol of economic emancipation, and the thread that could weave the
nation together. After a period of decline, the last decade has witnessed

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