Trichy :
Like Kancheepuram which is known for its sarees, Thathayangarpettai, a sleepy town situated around 60 km from the district headquarters was known for the finest handloom dhotis. Quality of the dhotis produced here was such that even AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran (MGR) fondly purchased the dhotis weaved by Thathyangarpettai handloom units.
B Manivel, 61, was one of the few craftsmen in Thathayangarpettai who had woven several dhotis for MGR in the 1980s. But nowadays, the handloom weaver makes a living by selling fried fishes near the Thathayangarpettai bus stop, and so do many other craftsmen in who have migrated to greener pastures.
Before the penetration of powerloom, handloom had been the major producer of fabrics with clusters spread in Musiri, Thathayangarpettai, Metupalayam, and Woraiyur. Unable to cope up with powerloom’s product capacity and inability to offer at affordable rates, handloom has been in a downfall since the last two decades.
Even as the state government celebrates the birth centenary of AIADMK founder in grandeur at Trichy on Thursday, the handloom weavers who once weaved the finest quality dhotis for MGR continue to be in distress. Though there were several clusters across the state that manufactured dhotis, Thathayangarpettai was a trademark for dhotis because of the craftsmanship.
“We have woven dhotis for MGR and other former AIADMK leaders such as R M Veerappan and S Thirunavukkarasar. If any dhoti order was placed for MGR, we weave it with special care as he prefers ultra-thin dhotis. Ever since his loss, we not only lost the orders but also a leader who cared for us,” Manivel told TOI.
It has been five years since Manivel produced a dhoti with his handloom unit. He has been running a fish fry stall near Thathayangarpettai bus stand ever since then as handloom weaving had become less profitable to make ends meet. Not just Manivel, several other craftsmen who wove dhotis for MGR are not into handloom anymore, such is the plight of once most successful handloom cluster.
“Thathayangarpettai handloom weavers were specialist in weaving AIADMK flag bordered dhotis. We were even shipping orders to Kerala once. Over the years, just like handloom units, our orders and as well as fortune declined drastically. Probably, we are the last generation of handloom weavers now,” M Ravi, a handloom weaver for the last three decades in Thathayangarpettai adds.
Many of Manivel and Ravi’s colleagues are now into other employments even as waiters in hotels. Though the governments floated several welfare schemes for handloom weavers including subsidised loans, the measures were too late as a majority of handloom clusters have been dissolved by now, according to the weavers.
Acknowledging severe migration among handloom weavers in Thathayangarpettai, an official with handlooms and textiles department said, “The numbers of existing handloom weavers in Thathayangarpettai is in decline despite our initiatives to support their needs. There are hardly 150 handloom units in the town and no new takers are coming forward for the same.”
As a remedy, the official added that potential marketing platforms for handloom weavers are being provided by the department by hosting special exhibitions in the city.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Trichy News / by Deepak Karthik / TNN / October 26th, 2017