https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How An Officer Revived A Dying Ancient Art of Weaving of Bharuch

Indian Masterminds Stories

Once upon a time, a weaving art of Bharuch was famous in entire India. Even the Britishers praised it. But, unfortunately, this art was dying in recent times and only one family was left doing the Sunani weaving work.

It was left to 2012 batch IAS officer and Bharuch Collector, Tushar D Sumera, to initiate its revival. Under the ‘Roshni Project’, the district administration devised a plan to give a new lease of life to the Sujani weaving technique. Accordingly, a training center was set up and a cooperative society formed for Sujani weavers.

Now, after a year, this art has been infused with a new breath of life and 10 plus new families are learning and working under Project Roshni. The good news is, even the old families related to this art are coming back to its fold. And, they have sold more than 2.5 lakh worth of Sujani products. The administration on its part has got it registered as ‘Rewa Sujani Brand’.

Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr. Tushar D Sumera to know more about his initiative.

IAS Tushar D Sumera is being honored by an artisan

PROJECT ROSHNI

Sujani is an ancient weaving art of Bharuch, Gujarat. A double-cloth fabric weaving technique, Sujani is believed to have originated in the mid-19th century in the port city and cotton-milling centre of Gujarat – Bharuch. Sujani weaves are used primarily to make cotton-filled checkered sujani quilts, but are also used for tablecloths, rugs and prayer mats.

However, gradually, this technique was vanishing and was on the brink of extinction. There came a time when only Mujakkir Bhai’s family was doing the work of Sujani weaving. But, with the efforts of Mr. Tushar D Sumera, this art has revived, with the launch of the project named ‘Roshni’.

Artisan learning Sujani by Mujakkir Bhai at training center

It was launched in March, 2023. A cooperative society for weavers named ‘Shree Bharuch District Sujani Production and sales Cooperative Society Limited’ was formed. Now, this same society has more than 100 members who were or are weavers. Some others have also shown interest in rejoining this weaving art bandwagon.

Mr. Sumera said, “When we started, only one family, including 4 direct weavers and 6-7 indirect ones were associated with the weaving process. But, now, there are more than 10 families and 100 plus weavers with us, directly or indirectly.”

Rewa Sujani Center

THE IMPLEMENTATION

The administration met the family of Mujakkir Bhai and convinced them to provide training to weavers. Then, artisans were searched who were interested in taking the training. A master handloom was set up under CSR fund, after 40 years while a Rewa Sujani Center was built.

Mr. Sumera said, “After master handloom was set up, the looms started coming up. Now people are eager to learn. We are seeing that within years, there will be more families practising it. We are achieving the scale.”

Artisans taking class

INNOVATION

The administration did not only revive the art, but also added innovation to it to make it feasible and relevant in the modern times. Basically, weavers were making blankets with Sujani art, but now they will also make jackets. Interestingly, the Sujani blanket can be used in all seasons.

Mr. Sumera said, “We have involved few people of designing schools who can guide us on this art, so that the artisans can make jackets and other clothes through this art.”

A Sujani handloom

WHY THE ART WAS DYING

What’s the reason behind Sujani’s decline? Mr. Sumera replied, “It required a lot of hard work and there was also the issue of remuneration. That’s why the people practising it kept decreasing. Finally, only one family was left to do it.”

It is indeed heartening to note that a dying ancient art form is being revived by the administration through incentives and encouragement. Hope the momentum that has been build, with more and more people coming forward to join the Sujani bandwagon, is kept up and about and, very soon, this growing art becomes a thriving one, once again.

Mujakkir Bhai getting State Award for his contribution to revival the Sujanu Art

Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT