Khadi / Khaadi Cloth of Comilla district:
The handloom weaving industry of this sub-continent has been world famous since ancient times. This weaving cloth was always exported abroad to meet the demand of the country. A professional community was then involved with the weaving industry. They were called ‘Yugi’ or ‘Debnath’ in the local language. During Gandhiji's non-cooperation movement in British India eriod, the khadi / Khaadi industry gained rapid popularity in the region due to historical reasons. At that time khadi cloth was made from cotton of Rangamati zone. At that time many Yugi or Debnath families lived in Chandina, Debidwar, Burichang and Sadar upazila of the district. Gandhiji's call for a boycott of foreign textiles was well received in Comilla at that time and the production of khadi textiles also increased. Khaadi cloth of Comilla district spread in different parts of the country. This cloth gained popularity as Khadi of Comilla.
The Abhay Ashram in Comilla, founded
by Gandhiji, played an important role in the spread of the Khadi industry.
Abhay Ashram was established as a social welfare institution in disguise as a
place of refuge for the practice cycle. The call for the boycott of foreign
clothes began when the spinning began at a massive rate. Abhay Ashram then started
making khadi cloth in addition to selling it in the cheap spinning wheel
market. Khadi cloth made in different villages also started to be marketed
through Abhay Ashram at this time.
According to the information, in
1926-27, an 8-arm-long dhoti was sold for only five hundred taka. At that time
Comilla Abhay Ashram sold khadi cloth worth about Tk. 9 lac. According to
Parimal Dutt, a late Rabindra Sangeet scholar and an activist of Abhay Ashram,
there was a huge demand but it was not fully met by Abhay Ashram. Due to the
rapid demand for khadi / Khaadi, holes were drilled in the ground under the
foot paddles for fast weaving. The cloth produced from this hole is khadi. Thus
the origin of the name Khadi or Khaadi. Gradually this cloth came to be known
as Khadi of Comilla or Khaddar.
The post-independence period was the golden age of khadi industry. Crisis comes immediately after this. The war-torn textile mills were then closed. There is a lot of pressure on handloom weaving in import-dependent countries to meet the demand for textiles. Although the production of khadi is not more than the demand of the country or the people, the weavers in the surrounding villages around Chandina Bazar in Comilla district started making sheets, curtains and cloths. Prior to independence, the demand for khadi was widespread as winter clothing.
Due to the demand for khadi textiles, some of the past governments in the region have taken advantage of the licenses of yarn and dyes to loot the profits as middlemen. Lack of cheap yarn and dye forced the real weavers to change their main occupation at that time. In the mid-eighties, the country witnessed a boom in the power loom based textile industry. As a result, the spread of non-cotton varieties of cloth took place at a huge rate. Increased use of polyester, rayon, viscose acrylic yarns. Duty-free foreign garments continue to be imported for export-oriented garments. In this way, the cloth called khadi which was spread from the valley is lost in the pit of extinction.
Although the khadi industry of Comilla
district flourished, it was mainly a cottage industry. Rural brides would get
extra income by cutting the yarn in a spinning wheel and selling it to the
weavers. The old man who could not work on the farm to eat, the teenager who
did not get the opportunity to sell labor outside, also got the opportunity to
earn extra income by spinning the spinning wheel.
Rasmalai:
Ras Malai was introduced by the Ghosh
community of Tripura in the nineteenth century. At that time, the task of
supplying sweets to various social events was mainly in their hands.
Malaikari-coated rasgolla was made at that time. Later, rasgolla dipped in milk
made with milk fuel was introduced. Gradually that late rasgolla became smaller
and became today's rasmalai of Comilla district.
Comilla Pottery:
There are various products of Comilla
pottery, one of the most ancient traditions of Bengali folk art. Among the
household utensils made in Comilla district since ancient times, jugs, pots,
nets, inns or lids, shankis, dishes, cups, vessels, incense burners, various
earthen toys and fruits, animals and birds were famous. However, with the touch
of modernity, it gradually became dreamy. In 1961, Dr. Akhtar Hamid Khan
established the Vijaypur Rudrapal Pottery Cooperative Society. In 1971 the Pak
army set it on fire.
After the war, when the Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave a grant of Tk 75,000, the
association turned around again. In the financial year 2009-2010, with the
financial support of the Ministry of Cooperatives, a pottery training center has
been set up here. Here at different times of the year 20 people are trained in
several batches. At the end of a long period of training, one potter became a
skilled artist. At present, potters are making flower tubs, various types of
sculptures, ceramics colors, durable sanitary latrine wheels, water tanks,
tiles, etc. in addition to various showpieces.
Thanks,
Related:
Rammala Library and Mahesh Chandra Bhattacharya
History and Sculptures of Mainamati-Lalmai Range | Part 1
Cast Images | History and Sculptures of Mainamati-Lalmai | Part 2
Little History of SouthEast Bengal | Conquest and Culture Changes
A little about Comilla District
Bangladesh Census Report | 2011 for Comilla
Total 16 Upazilas under Comilla District
Cumilla Victoria Government College
About Comilla Export Processing Zone | EPZ
Garments Factory in Comilla District
BTMA Member List | Spinning & Textile Factory in Comilla District
Khadi or Khaddar Fabrics | Tradition of Cumilla
