Lone weaver acts as torch bearer of the dying art of towel-weaving in West Bengal village

Back in the day, the towels made by the weavers of Amtala were well-reputed, not just in India but across several parts of the globe. Almost every house in this village had a loom and a spinning wheel. Some were involved in the business independently, while others used to lend money to buy cotton and thread and weave towels as per demand.

In the past, almost every house in Amtala had a loom and a spinning wheel. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Unable to keep pace with time, this weaving industry is about to disappear due to lack of raw materials and financial resources. People involved with this industry are incurring losses for years. At present, due to high prices of raw materials and low selling price, there is no profit whatsoever in the handicraft industry.

Towel, called ‘gamchha‘ in Bengali is believed to be derived from the phrase ‘ga mochha’, or wiping your body after taking a bath. The age-old relationship of this fabric with the Bengali culture has deep roots. The usage of towel is integral to almost every Bengali ceremony; alas, it is the towel makers who live in darkness.

The Bengali name of towel, ‘gamchha’, is believed to come from the phrase ‘ga mochha’, or wiping one’s body after a bath. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Parimal Nath is the only weaver in the whole of Amtala, who has retained the profession of his forefathers. “I have no desire to do this work. I have to do it under compulsion as I am too old to do any other heavy work at this age,” Nath said. “It is the only work I know which enables me to earn my meals,” he added.

According to Parimal Nath, he is associated with the industry of towel-weaving out of compulsion more than by choice. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

According to him, the solitary support he receives from Pradeep Nath of the Basirhat Peace in Harmony Society helps him to sell a handful of hand-woven towels in the market. “It (the industry) does not get any support from the government. No one in the next generation should have to enter this profession,” Nath said.

Owing to lack of support from the government and minimal room for profitability, Parimal Nath does not wish anyone from the new generation to take up the profession of towel-weaving. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Parimal Nath has been weaving towels for more than 40 years now. He can make four towels in a day. However, the advent of mechanical looms see 20 to 30 towels being woven in the blink of an eye, which serves as the perfect narrative for the demise of the hand-woven towel industry.

The advent of mechanical looms has increased production of towels manifold as compared to the weavers. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

Basirhat Peace in Harmony Society’s Pradeep Nath was quoted saying, “The condition of weavers in Bengal is very poor. Once, Basirhat towels were valued all over the country. But now there are no weavers left.” He tries reaching out to the local markets for selling these hand-woven towels, and hands over the entire income to the artists.

Besides Amtala, hand-woven towels are also made in Devog, Diara, Soladana, Matia, Raghunathpur, Begumpur, Jayanagar, Piara, Katiyahat, and Barabankra villages of West Bengal.

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