Weaver : Sonu Story

Sonu is among those few Chanderiyaan weavers who works with a vision for progressiveness and advancement of weavers’ community in Chanderi. But the situation was not so bright a few years back… Weaving for a master weaver on daily wages, Sonu was hugely disturbed with his regular life struggles. Untimely designs and raw materials only added to his misery. Sonu had to carry an everyday loss of Rs. 50-60 because of it and moreover there wasn’t anything new to learn or hone his weaving skills, all because of the monotonous designs he was weaving every day. This would have continued if one of his friend’s and a weaver of Chanderiyaan, Naresh, had not informed him about Chanderiyaan, and the opportunity for weavers to come and weave in Raj Mahal. Thiswas offered to those weavers who did not have a loom in their homes. Sonurealised his opportunity for a better life with Chanderiyaan, since he did not have a loom at home, accepted the work and started weaving for Chanderiyaan. “It has been more than a year for me in Chanderiyaan, and I have definitely grown as a weaver. Not only my monthly earnings have increased due to timely designs and material, I got to weave a variety of sarees, which ultimately nurtured my weaving skills tremendously.” At present, Sonu is highly satisfied with his work and living conditions but desires to learn some other educational and vocational skills that can benefit the weavers’ community of Chanderi.