Gujarat handloom artisan recalls PM Modi's 'request' for organic cotton products
New Delhi, Aug 7
As India observes 'National Handloom Day' on Friday, Gujarat's Chaman Siju recalled having an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a textile exhibition in the state, where the latter asked him to create "organic cotton products that could be gifted to world leaders".
A day after PM Modi's 'Get Ready With Me' Instagram reel, Modi Story, a popular social media handle on X, posted that Thursday's reel "wasn't the first time he found a unique way to celebrate India's weavers".
In a video attached to the post, Siju described his interaction with PM Modi during the exhibition for small-time weavers in Gandhinagar.
"I got an opportunity to welcome PM Modi. I was extremely impressed with his views. He told me to create organic cotton products that he can gift to world leaders. He said this will lead to two things - people around the world will get to know about India's craft and culture, and also marketing of the products will take place through this," Siju said.
The artisan said that he was also called to Delhi by PM Modi, where he took stoles made of organic black cotton and gave them to the PMO.
"PM Modi had gifted one of the black stoles to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Prime Minister later said that there was a long discussion about the organic cotton stoles with the then Japanese PM. Moreover, Shinzo Abe had worn that stole during his visit to India later," he said.
Siju added: "Now, wherever PM Modi undertakes a visit, he gifts our fabric made of organic cotton."
The post on X further said: "From trending reels to global diplomacy, PM Modi has consistently found new ways to take India's handloom to the world!"
Prime Minister Modi on Friday extended greetings on the occasion of National Handloom Day, paying tribute to India's rich handloom heritage and the generations of weavers and artisans who have preserved the country's traditional craftsmanship.
On Thursday, he had issued a clarion call to citizens, particularly the youth, to celebrate National Handloom Day with the same enthusiasm and spirit as Friendship Day.
Drawing a parallel with the recently celebrated Friendship Day, PM Modi appealed: "Just as you celebrated Friendship Day with great warmth, celebrate Handloom Day too. Celebrating Handloom Day means supporting the livelihoods of weaver families who create fabrics by hand".
— IANS
Reader Comments
The organic cotton initiative is brilliant. It's not just about marketing products; it's about empowering our rural artisans economically. The PMO directly engaging with weavers shows a personal touch that we rarely see in politics. We need more such initiatives that connect our traditional industries with global markets.
Interesting story, but I wonder about the actual impact on the ground. While it's great to see these symbolic gestures, we need more concrete policies that ensure fair wages and market access for all handloom weavers, not just those who get showcased at exhibitions. The handloom sector still faces many challenges.
My grandmother used to weave in our village in Andhra, and she would have been so proud to see this! 💙 The fact that PM personally visits exhibitions and encourages artisans shows he values our traditional crafts. Made my day reading this — जय जवान, जय किसान, जय विज्ञान, जय हिंद!
This is what 'Make in India' and 'Vocal for Local' should look like. The idea of using handloom products as diplomatic gifts is genius—it's soft power at its finest. And with organic cotton, we're also promoting sustainability. Hope this gives more visibility to our weaver communities.
National Handloom Day is such a great initiative. But let's be honest—celebrating one day isn't enough. The real work lies in ensuring these artisans get sustained support, fair prices, and protection from middlemen exploitation. I hope this story translates into long-term benefits for the handloom sector. 😊
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.