UNESCO Releases List Of 50 Indian Heritage Textiles
Recently UNESCO released a list of 50 prestigious Indian heritage textiles. The list is titled 'Handmade for the 21st Century: Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textile'.
The purpose of this publication is to provide proper documentation for the protection of intangible cultural heritage in South Asia. One of the major challenges to the protection of intangible cultural heritage in South Asia is the lack of proper inventory and documentation.
Some Important Listed Textile Crafts
Toda Embroidery and Sungudi of Tamil Nadu, Himroo Weaving of Hyderabad, Bandha Tie and Dye Weaving of Sambalpur, Odisha, Kunbi Weaving, Mashru Weaving and Patola of Gujarat, Himroo of Maharashtra, Garad-Korial of West Bengal, Ilkal and Lambadi of Karnataka Or Banjara Embroidery, Siklanayakanpet Kalamkari of Tamil Nadu, Khes of Haryana, Handkerchiefs of Chamba from Himachal Pradesh, Thigma or Wool Tie and Dye of Ladakh, Awadh Jamdani of Varanasi
UNESCO
It was established in the year 1945 to develop the "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind" as a means of lasting peace. It is located in Paris, France.
UNESCO Releases List Of 50 Indian Heritage Textiles
India is a land of rich and diverse textile traditions, with each region having its own unique style and technique of weaving, dyeing, printing, and embroidering fabrics. These textiles are not only expressions of art and culture, but also repositories of history, identity, and social values.
However, many of these textile crafts are facing the threat of extinction due to various factors such as industrialization, globalization, lack of patronage, loss of skills, and environmental degradation. To document and safeguard this intangible cultural heritage, UNESCO has recently released a list of 50 iconic Indian heritage textiles that showcase the diversity and excellence of India's handloom sector.
The list, titled "Handmade for the 21st Century: Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textile", covers textiles from different regions and communities of India, such as Khes from Panipat, Chamba rumors from Himachal Pradesh, Thigma or wool tie and dye from Ladakh, Awadh Jamdani from Varanasi, Ilkal and Lambadi or Banjara embroidery from Karnataka, Sikalnayakanpet Kalamkari from Thanjavur, Toda embroidery and Sungadi from Tamil Nadu, Himroo weaves from Hyderabad, Bandha tie and dye weaving from Sambalpur in Odisha, Kunbi weaves from Goa, Mashru weaves and Patola from Gujarat, Himroo from Maharashtra and Garad-Koirial from West Bengal.
The list provides detailed information on the histories and legends behind the textiles, the complicated and secret processes behind their making, the causes for their dwindling popularity, and the strategies for their preservation. It also includes recommendations for the protection and revitalization of these textile crafts, that cover both policy-level interventions and grass-root-based micro-initiatives.
The list aims to bridge the gap of proper inventory and documentation of intangible cultural heritage in South Asia, which is one of the major challenges for its safeguarding. It also hopes to inspire India to nominate one of its textile crafts for inscription in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which currently does not include any textile practices from India.
The list is a tribute to the talent and diversity of India's extraordinary weaving traditions, which have dazzled the world for centuries. It is also a reminder of the need to support and promote these iconic heritage crafts as contemporary treasures for future generations.
