https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Sujani Weaving Art Granted ‘GI’ Tag; A First For Bharuch, Gujarat

This is the result of the dedicated efforts put in by the various stakeholders - from artisans to government officials under Project ROSHANI
Indian Masterminds Stories

An old weaving art of Bharuch in Gujarat – Sujani – has now finally got its due. It has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) Tag by the “Geographical Indication Registry office” of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

It was a long-pending demand from the Bharuch artisans and the administration, and Sujani is the first product from the Bharuch district to receive the GI tag.

This is the result of the dedicated efforts by the various stakeholders – from artisans to government officials under Project ROSHANI.

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

Also Read: How An Officer Revived A Dying Ancient Art of Weaving of Bharuch

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.

Sujani is world famous for its unique style of quilt, like double woven cloth in which fabric is woven simultaneously and interlocked at fixed intervals creating pockets in between which are filled by cotton.

Project ROSHANI is a CSR initiative aiming to revive the languishing art of Sujani weaving art of Bharuch with strategic multiple interventions such as formation of cooperative society of weaver artisans, development of training cum production center, formalization of the handloom business, product standardization, women empowerment through training, preparing next young generation as Sujani weavers, etc.

As a part of Project ROSHANI, application for GI tag was filed by the Shree Bharuch District Sujani Production and Sales Cooperative Society with the District Administration playing a key facilitator for the documentation. DIC office, Commissioner Cottage Office (HSY) and many stakeholders also shared efforts for the documentation and paper work.

Also Read: How An Officer Revived A Dying Ancient Art of Weaving of Bharuch

ROSHANI Project was started on 12 March, 2023 with the inauguration of Rewa Sujani Center at the heart of Bharuch, near Furja, in the Heritage Building. The very first prototype handloom was developed after 40 long years under Project ROSHANI. This RewaSujani Center is a common facilitation cum training facility for all who want to learn about this exclusive art of Sujani weaving.

Due to the efforts of team ROSHANI, artisans like Muzakkir Sujaniwala was awarded the State Award for Languishing Art by the Government of Gujarat. Artisans started gaining confidence in the revival of this art. New generation along with non-Sujaniwala famililes also showed interest and started learning this weaving art which provided them livelihood opportunity as well.

Sujani artisans also participated in various national and international exhibitions such as G-20 conferences at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, National Handloom Day Celebration at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Bharat Tex, New Delhi, and many more.

Sujani was also included in the ODOP List (One District, One Product) to give wider exposure of national and international markets with the support of government. Various workshops and documentation activities were also organized such as Product Development and Design Sensitization by NID, craft documentation by NIFT, Gandhinagar, Hastkala Setu Yojana, and many more.

How GI Tag will benefit Sujani Weavers of Bharuch?

When the source and authenticity matter, using geographical indications (GI) can identify your product as being the real deal. GIs are a name or sign that indicates a product has a certain quality or reputation due to that origin. This will help Sujani to give correct identification with quality assurance and secure the art, developed by the creative ancestors of Sujaniwala family.

  • Enhance the reputation of Sujani
  • Build consumer confidence
  • Communicate commitment to social responsibility
  • Support regional economic development by providing livelihood opportunities to many
  • Prevent fraudulent uses that indicate origin

Also Read: How An Officer Revived A Dying Ancient Art of Weaving of Bharuch


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
coal-India-limited-scaled
Coal India Secures Ontillu-Chandragiri Rare Earth Block in Andhra Pradesh, Strengthens Critical Minerals Portfolio
IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey
Khasmahal Land Scam: Senior Jharkhand IAS Officer Remains in Jail as ACB Court Rejects Bail
POWERGRID Dividend to Government 2025
POWERGRID Pays ₹574.35 Crore Final Dividend to Government; Total Payout for FY25 Hits ₹4,297.40 Crore
BEL
BEL Secures ₹712 Crore Worth of New Defence and IT Orders, Expands Presence in Cybersecurity and Blockchain
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Gujarat tallest Govt tower
Surat to House India’s Tallest Government Administrative Building: Iconic Green Twin Towers to Redefine Urban Governance
NTPC
NTPC Ranked Among TIME’s World’s Best 1000 Companies 2025 for Sustainability, Growth, and Employee Excellence
CCF
Rajnath Singh Urges Armed Forces to Prepare for Unconventional Threats at Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
From Extinction to Exhilaration: The Untold Story and Future Vision of Project Cheetah | Led by IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma | Eco Warrior Awards 2025
K M Abharna IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
Meet K. M. Abharna, the IFS Officer Behind Avni’s Case and Vidya Balan’s Sherni Role
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ishwarlal Gurjar UPSC
10th Grade Failure to Indian Police Service: Ishwarlal Gurjar’s UPSC Success Path
Read the inspiring journey of Ishwarlal Gurjar from a small village in Rajasthan to becoming an IPS officer....
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
Social Media
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...
Tamil Nadu Gaur Rescue
Tiruchirappalli Forest Officials Risk Lives to Rescue Juvenile Gaur; Video Shared by IAS Officer Goes Viral
Trichy forest and fire teams risk lives to rescue a juvenile Indian gaur; IAS officer Supriya Sahu shares...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
coal-India-limited-scaled
Coal India Secures Ontillu-Chandragiri Rare Earth Block in Andhra Pradesh, Strengthens Critical Minerals Portfolio
IAS officer Vinay Kumar Choubey
Khasmahal Land Scam: Senior Jharkhand IAS Officer Remains in Jail as ACB Court Rejects Bail
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr. S.K
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
K M Abharna IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT