Bamboo weaving an economic lifeline for Yingphire villagers

Khumjongla Thongtsar
DIMAPUR — In Yingphire, one of the oldest eastern Sangtam villages in Kiphire district, bamboo weaving is more than just an art form – it is the economic lifeline for many of the village’s 140-odd households.

Situated about 90 km away from the district headquarters, the remote village has been passing down the age-old traditional craft of bamboo weaving from generation to generation.

“Monthly, I weave around seven to eight winnowing baskets and earn up to INR 14,000-15,000 with which my family is able to survive,” said 48-year-old Selichum, one of the best bamboo weavers in the village.

“I have three children who are studying in Kiphire and Dimapur and all their educational expenses are supported through my handicraft,” he added.

For the villagers of Yingphire, bamboo handicrafts have been their main source of economic sustenance and though they weave different items, their chief source of income comes from the winnowing basket, also known as ‘Müro’ in Sangtam.

“The process of weaving one winnowing basket, including the preparations and giving the finishing touches, takes around two days. If an individual is consistent, then he can weave three baskets in a week,” shared Tsipongse, another weaver.

“Apart from those who are employed in other sectors, most of the villagers are engaged in weaving. Through this activity, we are able to raise our children.”

It is reported that 70 to 80 percent of the menfolk of Yingphire are engaged in bamboo weaving.

In the 1970s, the villagers used to sell the winnowing baskets at INR 10-15 apiece. Today, with the increase in demand and rising cost of labour, each piece is sold for INR 1,500- 2,000.

Where it all began

For Yingphire villagers, the art of bamboo weaving, which was practiced during their forefathers’ time, is still being passed down from one generation to another.

Long before the advent of Christianity, when schools were out of reach, both boys and girls of the village lived with their parents and helped their parents in agriculture and handicraft activities.

Traditionally, the boys in Yingphire are trained in bamboo crafts right from their early childhood by their parents, with the purpose of directing a path for their survival.

The first step involves teaching them the techniques to cut a bamboo; then they are taught how to split the bamboo and how to hold the ‘dao’ (machete or knife) the right way while splitting and shaving the bamboo and into fine strips.

Finally comes the most crucial part, where parents teach their children the five steps of weaving.

Today, even as education is making inroads into the village, parents continue to impart the art of weaving to their children, a craft that they are certain will stand them in good stead.

Replenishing the source that feeds them

Every year between April and May, the villagers partake in planting bamboo around the village, especially the ‘Pho’ (local name), a larger species of bamboo that is the most used bamboo in the weaving process.

“With one Pho bamboo, a weaver can make up to three winnowing baskets.” Thrioto Thongtsar, Gaonbura of Yingphire village, told Eastern Mirror.

And armed with the knowledge of how valuable bamboo can be, villagers of Yingphire avoid consumption of bamboo shoots.

“Villagers don’t forage for bamboo shoot as they are aware that consuming one bamboo shoot can cause a thousand losses. Instead of eating, people preserve them for weaving, which is more beneficial,” Thrioto shared.

There are varieties of bamboo growing in abundance in the village’s forest; however, the Yingphire weavers mainly use two types – ‘Pho’ and ‘Tsunghu’. ‘Tsunghu’ is a smaller bamboo variety.

According to villagers, bamboos aged five months to one year are ideal for weaving as they have a softer texture, making the finished product long-lasting.

What makes Yingphire winnowing baskets stand out?

Though the winnowing basket is weaved in several other villages, it is said that “uniqueness in design” is what sets apart Yingphire winnowing baskets from the rest: thanks to the dexterity in wicker-work and basketry of the Yingphire weavers.

Cane plays a vital role in weaving winnowing baskets, as the use of cane makes the basket more durable. One cane is approximately five to six feet and to make one winnowing basket, weavers use three pieces of cane.

Villagers either get the cane from the forest or purchase it from others for INR 35-45 per piece.

”Despite the cost of Yingphire winnowing baskets being a bit higher than those from other villages, people, especially from Zunheboto district, prefer our baskets for their design and durability,” the village GB shared.

The village shares borders with Zunheboto district.

Everyday challenges of basket weavers, sellers

For the village weavers, quest for raw materials such as cane is a major challenge. The villagers venture deep into the jungle in search of good quality cane and even after finding them, the thorns all over the cane pose a problem while carrying them back home.

“Selling our finished products also poses some significant problems. Sometimes we sell them through the wholesalers, but mostly we travel by foot to different villages to sell our wares. While on our way, we face hurdles like bad road conditions, especially during rainy days,” Selichum explained.

Language barriers also come in the way when they try to sell their crafts to villages that speak different dialects.

Chotsapi, who buys winnowing baskets from weavers and resells them to other villages, also has his share of problems.

“I travel by foot from one village to another in search of customers. Whenever I head out, I carry around 15 pieces of winnowing baskets on my head. However, on some days, we return home without selling even a single piece. Many times, we rest for the night in one village and travel to the next village the following day,” he said.

— The writer is a student of Journalism and Mass Communication at Nagaland University. She is currently an intern at Eastern Mirror.