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Weaving a sorry tale in Kancheepuram
Kancheepuram, the city of thousand temples is one of the oldest cities in the south of India, and was a city of learning in both Tamil and Sanskrit. The name of the town, which is situated on the Palar river, means a city of gold. It is also known as one of the seven ancient places that lead a person to salvation, the others are Varanasi, Mathura, Ujjain, Hardwar, Dwaraka and Ayodhya.
Kancheepuram, everyone knows, is famous for its silk saris. There are over 70,000 looms in existence in and around the city, and more than a lakh people are involved in weaving the silk. It also has the distinction of having the maximum number of handlooms in one single pocket.
How do the weavers live? Are they happy with the way they are treated by the various governments? Which party will they support? What do they expect from the next government? Rediff.com decided to find out the answers.
Text: Shobha Warrier | Photographs: Sreeram Selvaraj
Also See: Thalaivar on a sticky wicket
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