The Handloom Industry of Begampur in Transition

Abhradip Banerjee is assistant professor of anthropology in the Higher Education Department, government of West Bengal.

List of Tables and Figures

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Why Handlooms? Excavating the Trope

Handloom Industry and the Indian Economy

Perspectives on Indian Handlooms and the De-Industrialization Debate

Within a Maze: My Early Research and Involvement

Anthropology of Craft and Craftsmen: Concepts, Dimensions and Theoretical Perspectives

The Backdrop of the Present Research

The Handloom Industry of Begampur in Transition: Technology, Disjuncture and Development

Methodology

Structure of the Book

Chapter 1: The Setting: People, the Place, Economy, and Lives

History and Geographical Location of this Region

Geology and Climate

Flora and Fauna

Population and the Ethnic Composition

Education

Occupations

Infrastructure and Healthcare Facilities

Literary and Cultural Traditions

Chapter 2: Tracing the Historical and Cultural Landscape of the Handloom Industry in Begampur: From Past to the Present

Historical And Cultural Geography of Indian Handlooms

Handloom Industry of Bengal

Handloom Weaving Tradition in Begampur and its Evolution

Chapter 3: The Social and the Religious Life Handloom Weavers in Begampur Region

Ethnic Origin and Religious Cohabitation

Marriage

Family

Kinship

Life-Cycle Rituals

Religious Ceremonies and Festivals

Chapter 4: The Craft of Handloom Weaving: Technology, Processes, Work Coordination, Products and their Market

Loom and Other Implements

Knowledge and Skills in Different Stages of Cloth Production

Work Coordination and Division of Labour

Raw Materials, Products and their Market

Chapter 5: The Disjuncture and Juxtapositions of Cloth Production, Organization and Marketing

Individual Creative Identity vs. Community-Level Collective Production

Traditional Artisanal Craft vs. Technology-Driven Commercialized Mass-Production

The Informal vs. Formal Organizational Setup: The Issue of Dependence and Relative Independence

Empowerment vs. Exploitation: Types of Contracts and the Relations in Production

The Utility Products vs. Items with High Aesthetic Content

The Issue of Local vs. Global: Local Identity vs. the Process of Homogenization

Chapter 6: Handloom Weavers Cooperatives Societies in Begampur: A Failed Experiment?

A Brief History of Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative in India

Handloom Weavers Cooperative Societies in Begampur Region

Rise of Begampur Handloom Cluster Society

Conclusion

Notes

Glossary

References

Index

About the Author