New Delhi: An old weaving art of Bharuch in Gujarat – Sujani – has now finally got its due. It has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) Tag by the “Geographical Indication Registry office” of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
It was a long-pending demand from the Bharuch artisans and the administration, and Sujani is the first product from the Bharuch district to receive the GI tag.
This is the result of the dedicated efforts by the various stakeholders – from artisans to government officials under Project ROSHANI.
Once upon a time, Sujani was famous in the entire country. Even the Britishers praised it. But, unfortunately, this art was dying in recent times and only one family was left doing the Sujani weaving work.
It was left to 2012 batch IAS officer and Bharuch Collector, Tushar D Sumera, to initiate its revival. Under the ‘Roshni Project’, the district administration devised a plan to give a new lease of life to the Sujani weaving technique. Accordingly, a training center was set up and a cooperative society formed for Sujani weavers.
Sujani is world famous for its unique style of quilt, like double woven cloth in which fabric is woven simultaneously and interlocked at fixed intervals creating pockets in between which are filled by cotton.
Project ROSHANI is a CSR initiative aiming to revive the languishing art of Sujani weaving art of Bharuch with strategic multiple interventions such as formation of cooperative society of weaver artisans, development of training cum production center, formalization of the handloom business, product standardization, women empowerment through training, preparing next young generation as Sujani weavers, etc.
As a part of Project ROSHANI, application for GI tag was filed by the Shree Bharuch District Sujani Production and Sales Cooperative Society with the District Administration playing a key facilitator for the documentation. DIC office, Commissioner Cottage Office (HSY) and many stakeholders also shared efforts for the documentation and paper work.
ROSHANI Project was started on 12 March, 2023 with the inauguration of Rewa Sujani Center at the heart of Bharuch, near Furja, in the Heritage Building. The very first prototype handloom was developed after 40 long years under Project ROSHANI. This RewaSujani Center is a common facilitation cum training facility for all who want to learn about this exclusive art of Sujani weaving.
Due to the efforts of team ROSHANI, artisans like Muzakkir Sujaniwala was awarded the State Award for Languishing Art by the Government of Gujarat. Artisans started gaining confidence in the revival of this art. New generation along with non-Sujaniwala famililes also showed interest and started learning this weaving art which provided them livelihood opportunity as well.
Sujani artisans also participated in various national and international exhibitions such as G-20 conferences at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, National Handloom Day Celebration at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Bharat Tex, New Delhi, and many more.
Sujani was also included in the ODOP List (One District, One Product) to give wider exposure of national and international markets with the support of government. Various workshops and documentation activities were also organized such as Product Development and Design Sensitization by NID, craft documentation by NIFT, Gandhinagar, Hastkala Setu Yojana, and many more.
How GI Tag will benefit Sujani Weavers of Bharuch?
When the source and authenticity matter, using geographical indications (GI) can identify your product as being the real deal. GIs are a name or sign that indicates a product has a certain quality or reputation due to that origin. This will help Sujani to give correct identification with quality assurance and secure the art, developed by the creative ancestors of Sujaniwala family.
