National Handloom Awards For Two State Weavers

Hyderabad:Pavan Guda, a generational weaver of double Ikkat silk saris using natural dyes and Narmada and Gajam Narendra, known for their marketing skills, will be presented National Handloom Awards by President Droupadi Murmu on August 7, National Handloom Day, in Delhi.

They are among the five recipients of the Sant Kabir award and 19 winners of the National Handloom award, organised by the Union textiles ministry.

Feeling proud and elated at the announcement, Pavan Guda told Deccan Chronicle that he was introduced to the art of making Ikkat sarees at the age of 15.

"We have been doing this 'Teliya Rumal' work for many decades. All my family members — my mother, father and sister — are in this profession. As soon as I finished my training, I made a silk sari made of natural colours.”

He explained that the natural colours are derived from marigold, pomegranate, manjishtha roots, aljerian powder, indigo leaves, iron rust and jaggery. The colours are blended into 16 different types of designs. “Making each piece is a six-month-long process and costs around ₹75,000," Guda said.

While his father Guda Srinu received the National Handloom Award in 2010, presented by then President Pranab Mukherjee, Guda said he learned the craft to bring the handloom heritage to future generations. "I entered this profession primarily to put sarees made of natural colours in the market," he said.

Gajam Narendra, son of a weaver hailing from Puttapaka in Narayanpur mandal of Yadadri district, was only 17 when he started selling saris to support his family after his father's demise. Two years later, after his marriage, his wife Narmada started pitching in with ideas about expanding their business.

In 2013, they established their firm 'Narendra Handlooms', with Narmada as the sole propreiter. Since, they have been working together, spreading the work of traditional weavers across the country. They have a network of over 300 weavers whose products are sold in 15 different cities.

"We are extremely happy with the platform we will get with this award. Now, the work of tradtional weavers and their craft can reach more people. Our primary motive is to keep the tradtional art alive and weavers should never go out of work," said Narendra.

The couple takes inspiration from Gajam Govardhan and Gajam Anjaiah, Padma Shri awardees from Narendra's village.

The Sant Kabir Handloom Award is presented to master weavers with exceptional skills and a lifetime of contribution to preserving India’s weaving heritage and includes a cash prize of ₹3.5 lakh. The National Handloom Award honours weavers and innovators for their outstanding craftsmanship and sectoral impact. Awardees receive ₹2 lakh in cash. The winners of both awards are also presented with a gold coin, a tamrapatra, a shawl and a certificate.