Jamdani in Tradition And History
29 August 2013, 18:00 PM
UPDATED
30 August 2013, 04:04 AM
The jamdani has always had a place in Bangladesh's history. There was a time when the land known as Bengal was but a metaphor for the beautiful jamdani saris around the world. Even now, demand for the product remains unusually high, with women in this country as well as across the border desiring nothing better than a jamdani for themselves.
From the making of it to its selling to large sari houses by weavers, the jamdani becomes in effect a cause for celebration. Weavers troop down to the BSCIC ground in Rupganj, Narayanganj, every Thursday to make their pitch for the saris. The jamdani may be offered for a price ranging from anywhere between Tk 3000 and Tk 60,000. If that is the cheering part of the story, the sad one is in the pittance the weavers get as weekly wages, which is no more than Tk 2000 per weaver. Add to that the high yarn prices as also the presence of a syndicate as a hint of the problem.
But none of that spoils the poetry attached to the jamdani. The tradition remains, and on a high perch.
Photo: Anisur rahman
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