Telangana State Gongadi makers fighting for survival

Begumpet: It is a fight against all odds. The Deccan Gongadi (blanket) makers are waging a lonely battle against lower priced, machine made quilts that are available in malls as against the handmade ones that they produce. The annual exhibition of Telangana’s woolen craft ‘Gongadi’ by Deccani Gorrela Mekala Pempakadarla Sangham (DGMPS) and the food sovereignty alliance India concluded on Sunday with a ray of hope. 

“It is one of the Telangana’s oldests craft but unfortunately there is less support by the government. This is the 8th edition of the exhibition,” said Dr Sagari Ramdas, a veterinary doctor and advisor for DGMPS. “When we started the exhibition we could sell only five gongadis but now we are able to sell 20-25. Public are showing interest in buying but there is no support from the government. Under the governments sheep development programme launched in 2017, non-Deccani sourced from outside the state were distributed. They can’t survive in our state due to extreme weather conditions. When we asked them for Deccani black sheep but were not given. We were disappointed by the government but our sangham decided to continue gongadi weaving. We are trying to conserve black sheep from 2004.  Now black Deccani sheep are there only in Medak district,” he added.

“Like every year this year also we got good response from the public. The only complaint they had is about the price. People who understood about the process bought it happily,” said Gunda Yadagiri, Secretary, and DGMPS.  “Gongadi weaving is a long process. It takes 15 days to weave a small gongadi and 20 days to weave a large one. Small gongadi will cost Rs 6,500 and the large ne will cost Rs 8,000. This is completely handmade. It will survive for more than 15-20 years. Because of financial problems and decline in sheep rate the number of weavers is coming down. There are so many people involved in weaving process and our sangham is looking after the expenses. The next generation is not taking up this as their livelihood because of the lack of recognition for the craft. It would be good if our government understand the value of the craft and support us,” said Thakadi Shaikulu, DGMPS member.

“I’m into weaving from my childhood. My next generation is showing interest in this. We are scared that this art will die with us. If government shows interest and support us this craft will be alive. Government should promote gongadis, only then people will know about this. Customers are feeling that cost is high because they dnt know the process of weaving. If government supports us we can sell them at low prices and make it affordable to everyone,” said Yadama. Two decades back there were many Deccani sheep but now they are becoming extinct. It is only because of DGMPS they are surviving only in the Medak district, said Shaikulu.

BY Kavya Reddy