One of the defining movements in India’s struggle for freedom was Swadeshi Movement, which was launched on August 7, 1905. The movement encouraged indigenous industries and the spirit of Swadeshi, which included handloom weavers. In 2015, the Government of India decided to designate August 7 every year, as the National Handloom Day (NHD).
On August 7, 2018, India Post has released a set of postage stamps on Geographical Indication (GI) Registered Handloom Products of India. These stamps includes Baluchari Saree, West Bengal, Bhagalpur Silk, Bihar, Kashmir Pashmina, Kashmir, Pochampally Ikat, Telangana and Tangaliya Shawl, Gujarat.
Jamnagari Bandhani (Gujarat)
A Special cover on Jamnagari Bandhani was released by the Department of Posts, Gujarat Postal Circle, with a Dandi Cancelation on April 6, 2021 with a QR Scan code too.
Kutch Embroidery (Gujarat)
A Special cover on Kutch Embroidery was released by the Department of Posts, Gujarat Postal Circle, with a Dandi Cancelation on April 6, 2021 with a QR Scan code too.
Patan Patola (Gujarat)
A Patola silk saree is a luxurious and intricate saree made using a double ikat weaving technique, traditionally from the Patan region of Gujarat. Patola silk sarees are highly prized and sought after by saree lovers all over the world. A Special cover on Patan Patola was released by the Department of Posts, Gujarat Postal Circle, with a Dandi Cancelation dated April 6, 2021 with a QR Scan code too.
Kovai Kora Cotton Saree (Tamil Nadu)
Kovai Kora cotton or Kovai Kora cotton is a type of saree made in the Coimbatore region in Tamil Nadu. It has been recognized as a Geographical indication by the Government of India in 2014–15. The Devanga community are pioneers in weaving Kovai Kora cotton saris. A total of 82 Weaver cooperative Societies in Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode are authorized to sell Kovai Kora cotton saris. A special cover on the Kovai Kora Cotton Sarees was released with an excellent cancellation on August 15, 2021 with a Coimbatore place cancelation.
Salem Venpattu (Tamil Nadu)
Salem Silk known as Salem Venpattu refer to silk clothes made in Salem, Tamil Nadu. It received Intellectual Property Rights Protection or Geographical Indication (GI) status. A special cover was released on August 19, 2021 with a Salem place cancelation too.
Banarasi Silk Saree (Uttar Pradesh)
Banarasi sari is a sari made in Varanasi, an ancient city. The saris are among the finest saris in India and are known for their gold and silver brocade or zari, fine silk and opulent embroidery. The saris are often part of an Indian bride's trousseau. Depending on the intricacy of its designs and patterns, a sari can take from 15 days to a month and sometimes up to six months to complete. A special cover was released on September 29, 2021 with a Varanasi place cancelation and Rs 5 stamp with Varanasi Weaves stamps which was released on 2020, also as a part of the One District One Product.
Mysore Silk (Karnataka)
Mysore silk is produced by the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited (KSIC). The factory was founded in 1912 by Sri Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore. Initially, the silk fabrics were manufactured and supplied to meet the requirements of the royal family and ornamental fabrics to their armed forces. After India gained independence, the Mysore State Sericulture Dept took control of the silk weaving factory. In 1980, the factory was handed over to KSIC, a government of Karnataka industry. Today, products include silk sarees, shirts, kurtas, silk dhoti, and neckties. Mysore silk has also received geographical identification. A special cover was released on August 31, 2021 with a place cancelation of Bengaluru.
Chendamangalam Handloom (Kerala)
Chendamangalam Saree is a traditional hand woven cotton sari from Chendamangalam, Ernakulam district of Kerala. This saree is part of the Chendamangalam Handloom tradition of Kerala. A special cover was released on October 12, 2021 with a Chendamangalam place cancelation too.
Kasargod Sarees (Kerala)
A Kasaragod saree is a type of traditional cotton sari made by weavers belonging to the Saliya community in the Kasaragod district of Kerala. They are distinct from the traditional Kerala sari and exhibit influences of neighboring Karavali styles. A special cover was released on August 7, 2021 on Kasargod Sarees with Vidynagar Place cancelation too.
Kuthampully Saree (Kerala)
Kuthampully Saree is a type of sari traditionally made by weavers from Kuthampully village in Thiruvilwamala Grama Panchayat of Thrissur district of Kerala state in India. The Kuthampully Saree is distinguished by its saree borders. A special cover was released on August 7, 2021 with a Kuthampully place cancelation on National Handloom Day.
Handloom of the State of Goa
The Kunbi saree was developed by two native tribes of Goa, namely, the Kunbis and the Gawdas. These tribes were mainly farmers who cultivated rice and owned paddy fields. The saree, therefore, is shorter in length and allows women to perform household chores and partake in agricultural work without getting their clothes dirty. This simple garment has gradually changed with time and now its use has declined significantly. Today, it merely serves as a reminder of the culture of tribal groups that lived around the hilly areas in Goa.
In terms of the challenges faced by the Kunbi saree, there is hardly any documentation available on the origin of this red-checked saree. Today, various individuals and revivalists are making efforts to document this textile and spread awareness in the masses before it is forever lost in the pages of history. A Picture Postcard card released on the World Postcard 2023 by the Department of Posts, Goa Postal Division on the Kunbi Saree is given below.
The Department of Posts, Govt of India as well as several states of India have brought out the First Day Covers, Special Covers, as well as stamps and Miniature sheets. Further, each state are entitled to prepare special covers on tribes of each state as well as handloom. It would have been very appropriate to release a Special cover on the Kunbi Saree, to highlight the Handloom of Goa on the National Handloom Day on August 7, 2024 instead of the proposed National Handloom Day special cancelation which is currently planned to be released under the Maharashtra and Goa Postal Circle at the various Philatelic Bureaus.
(Dr M R Ramesh Kumar is a Chief Scientist (Retd), Physical Oceanography Division National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula and a member of the Philately and Numismatics Society, Goa.)