A Story of Resilience in Bangalore's Weaving Community

In the bustling community of Gottigere, where several colonies thrived, there was one that stood out among the rest—the Weavers colony. The air was alive with the rhythmic chugging of the steam engine and the constant hum of threads being spun, creating a sweet melody that resonated all day, every day of the week. 

This is the tale of a small yet tightly-knit weaving community in Bangalore, where skilled artisans endeavoured to keep their ancient craft alive amidst the fast-paced modern world. Similar communities could be found all over the globe, each with its unique history, culture, and weaving techniques.

My visit to Gottigere was nothing short of memorable. As I stepped into the vibrant street, something about it felt like home.

Perhaps it was the sheer hard work and dedication exuded by the people living there or the tightly woven community they had built together over generations.

Inside the humble home of Yeshu Gottigere, the 22-year-old weaver, I was warmly greeted by his extended family—grandparents, parents, and aunt—all united by their love for the loom. The family's lineage of weavers began in the quaint town of Andhra Pradesh before eventually settling in Chickpete and, after forty years, finding their current abode in the Weavers colony of Gottigere. Yeshu, an aspiring MBA graduate, held a dream of pursuing education while staying true to his family's weaving heritage. "I want to get a degree but also want to work at the mill," he said with determination.

Yeshu's family frequently visited Chickpete, their previous residence, where his uncle and cousin still resided, to procure materials and threads for their daily weaving endeavours. Chickpete, the commercial hub for textile stores, played a pivotal role in sustaining the weaving community. Specializing in an array of sarees—from pure silk to regular cotton and adorned with intricate designs, including bridal wear—the family's craftsmanship was second to none. While traditional handloom sarees used to take a whole day to complete, modern machinery had reduced the time to just four hours. Yeshu's eyes sparkled with passion as he described the intricate process of weaving, highlighting the delicacy of the silk warp, woven meticulously into the fabric alongside other textiles.

Designs for these exquisite sarees were brought to life using various stencils supplied by vendors. The family's rich tapestry of designs included contributions from Yeshu's grandparents, particularly his skilled grandmother. The meticulous weaving process involved printing the designs with the help of a graph and skilfully manoeuvring the threads using the graph as a guide. The machines employed in this process were known as Jakaad, a testament to the evolution of their craft.

But like many others, the pandemic had its toll on Yeshu's weaving community. As I entered their home, I couldn't help but notice the stack of school books in the corner, a testament to the hardships they endured. To make ends meet during the challenging times, Yeshu's mother temporarily switched from weaving to teaching kindergarten children. However, this adjustment resulted in the loss of two crucial machines, posing a significant setback to their business. Yeshu spoke with determination about his father's efforts to recover those machines and restore their family's livelihood.

Amidst the trials faced by the weaving community, competition also loomed. Despite supplying sarees to numerous South Indian states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, the rise of commercial textile shops presented a challenge. These shops offered lower prices and greater accessibility, luring customers away from local weavers. Nonetheless, Yeshu was quick to emphasize that the sarees woven by his family were made of pure silk and boasted unparalleled longevity.

The presence of middlemen in the distribution chain further exacerbated the challenges.

Yeshu's family sold their sarees to a vendor, who then distributed them, leaving little room to sell their products at a fair price and impacting their profit margins. Yet, amidst these trials, there was hope. The government's implementation of various schemes provided support to small weaving communities like Yeshu's during times of low sales, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. While these efforts were helpful, Yeshu acknowledged that there was still room for improvement in the support provided.

Eager to embrace the future, Yeshu envisioned digitizing their business by utilizing social media platforms to directly connect with customers and expand their market. However, he noted that the weaving community was still unfamiliar with these modern methods and had yet to venture into this realm.

When asked about the future of the weaving industry, Yeshu's eyes shone with determination and optimism. "I want to continue weaving for as long as possible," he declared. Together with his community, they vowed to preserve their traditional craft, bridging the gap between their rich heritage and the ever-evolving world. Despite the challenges they faced, their collective resilience and passion for weaving were bound to create a lasting tapestry, celebrating their craft for generations to come.

Written by

Sheetal Mary George.