Women weavers bat for inclusion of handicrafts in school curriculum

DIMAPUR — With the present generation shying away from taking up weaving as a way of life, the women weaver community in Nagaland has suggested inclusion of handicrafts as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum.

This would not only ensure that children learn about their culture but also take the weaver community forward by way of enhancing their livelihood through teaching handicrafts to the school students.

The inclusion of handicrafts in the school curriculum, weavers’ fair wage, way forward to address sustenance of the art of weaving in the state, and “Should weaving be inclusive for Naga menfolks’ participation?”,  were some of the topics deliberated at the “Weavers dialogue” as part of 9th Naga Loinloom Festival held at a Diezephe village, Chümoukedima district,  on Thursday.

After the discussion, the women weavers shared that as per the Naga custom and tradition, menfolks cannot involve in weaving because weaving is a work handed down over generations to women, while men are assigned with other responsibilities.

They cited the forefathers’ belief that if men weave, they will be unable to reach their full potential, especially in physical aspects like games and hunting.

Instead, to promote the women weavers, men can modernise the weaving tools to lessen the task of the women. Also, girls can be taught about weavings in school and boys trained to make weaving tools so that women can continue weaving, the weavers proposed. They also opined that both men and women should be encouraged to wear their own respective traditional products instead of imported dresses: the same should be applied to household products like coaster, cushion, covers and others.

They also suggested that society should organise workshops for students during summer camps, while assuring that the weaver community is ever ready to come and teach the students whenever invited.

On the pricing of weaved products, the community expressed disappointment that despite a lot of time and energy taken to finish a single product, most people consider the locally weaved products as expensive.

The artisans from Noklak district who use nettle leaves to weave traditional clothes, shared that they foray into the deep jungles to collect the plants, and then the preparation process is also very long.

During earlier times, a woman usually could weave only one shawl a year because the nettle leaves collected during September is the best, the said.

They further disclosed that the finished products (shawl or mekhela), which they sell at approximate NR 3000 might be “expensive for buyers,” but it is a “loss for them,” taking into account the backbreaking work involved in weaving a traditional attire.

The women weavers appealed the buyers to also understand the value of the weaves and the time invested and not always bargains on price.

President of Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA), Vilanuo Angela Yhome, appreciated the weaver community for coming together, while lamenting that today there is very less news about weaving and traditional attires.

She recalled that during the olden times, parents rarely bought dresses from outside the village but every villager, whether rich or poor, would weave their own clothing.

Advocating the need to revive such a culture as “that is our identity,” Yhome cautioned that if the present trend of buying imported clothing continues, then Naga people would “lose our culture and even forget about the traditional attires.”

She further encouraged the women weavers not to depend on machines because though use of machines would lead to mass production and cut down cost, but it will also “spoil the original tradition.”

On the occasion, a weaving completion was also held where Vekulü won the first position, while Mulutolü Lüpu and Vesevolü won the second and third prizes, respectively.

Also read: Ensure market linkage for local weavers — MoS Jardosh