Meera Goradia’s book Weaving with Compassion: The Rikhyas of Kutch invites readers into the fascinating world of the Meghwals, the weaving community of Kutch in Gujarat, Western India. “Rikhya” is an adaptation of the Sanskrit word Rishi, meaning a seer or sage, a spiritual being with extraordinary insight. The Meghwals are considered Rikhyas because of their spiritual leanings as “protectors of dharma.”
The book’s genesis can be traced back to Goradia’s extensive experience working with weavers for decades, when the need arose to “go beyond the materiality of the products that artisans offer us, and touch the space from where their creativity springs, [..] a need to understand this better and share it with the world.”
This well-researched book is anchored in the community’s historical traditions and deeply rooted religious beliefs and faith, where creativity is embedded within its rich socio-cultural ethos. It intersects with the community’s artistic expressions in weaving and offers insights into the lives of the weavers. What is particularly interesting and heartwarming is the author’s humanist approach to sharing the stories of the weavers. It provides the reader a glimpse into their lives – the hardships, joys, personal family stories, and social and professional relationships.
The author emphasizes the increasing number of women entering the profession, highlighting a significant shift from when they were traditionally restricted from pursuing a “male” profession. Weaving has empowered these women by offering financial independence and security while serving as a medium for them to express their creativity and artistic talents.
“Weaving has given many women a sense of self-worth—it has helped us earn on our own, and we now have the freedom to spend what is ours.”
– Champa Siju Mangaria, Weaver-artist from Bhujodi.
From Plant to Loom is one of the book’s eight chapters, and it is entirely dedicated to photographs by Ragini Siruguri, the book’s designer. The photos illustrate the evolution from seed to a finished product – picking the cotton seed, hand rolling, spooling, preparing the warp for the loom, dyeing the yarn, and weaving. The pictures include the vocabulary of weaving techniques, embellishment, and innovations like weaving with waste plastic bags, a response to the environmental concerns of consumption, a rising trend that is attracting new weavers to the craft.
Cultural Shifts highlights how the Rikhyas, particularly the younger generation, are disrupting centuries-old social and cultural norms of discrimination and marginalization, asserting their identity and self-worth. They were once regarded as untouchables by the villages’ “higher caste” families, who prohibited them from entering their homes and temples and eating alongside them. These practices are now being challenged, and the Rikhyas refuse to accept any form of segregation or bias.
Goradia is intentional (and mindful) in naming the weavers and acknowledging their contributions to the craft. By humanizing them, she allows us to enter their ecosystem as they navigate an increasingly capitalist, modern world while still holding on to their faith and belief in the divine. They recognize and revere the gift of weaving handed down through their ancestors, hoping the younger generation will carry this forward. The book concludes with the words of master weaver Devji Premji Siju, who believes that the future is a “knowing awareness that is greater than the intellect. And therefore, the future can only be bright. And our weaving will be a part of it.” A fitting end!
