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craft of Patan Patola will fade away and our
future generations will only be able to see this
beautiful textile in museums. Patan Patola is a
unique textile technique and its disappearance
will be a huge loss for the textile world.
Acknowledging Expertise
I have received the National Award, Heritage
Award, Golden Jubilee India Independence
Award and several other esteemed awards for
my textiles. I am the only Patan Patola master
weaver who has received the prestigious
UNESCO Seal of Excellence twice for textiles
woven by me. I have taught the Patan Patola
weaving technique to students at the National
Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and have
demonstrated the technique on different
occasions in India such as at the Crafts
Museum in New Delhi and the Surajkund
Mela in Haryana. A first time workshop in
Patan Patola was held overseas at the Honolulu
Museum of Art – that was formerly Honolulu
Academy of Arts – in Hawaii, USA, and I
explained the technique to visitors.
I also demonstrated the technique to
former US President Jimmy Carter and
his wife during their visit to India in 1978
and to President Dr Abdul Kalam when
he visited IIM Ahmedabad. My Patan
Patolas were displayed at the Festivals of
India in London, in Japan and USSR. The
visitors were fascinated by the technique
and asked me to explain it in detail. My
family and I are deeply appreciative of the
support and encouragement given to us by
Paramparik Karigar to continue weaving
authentic Patan Patola. The organisation has
created awareness of the craft which is very
important as many people do not know about
the effort involved in creating these beautiful
weaves. I truly hope the craft has a future.
