73
work – Bandhodaya saree. In 1997, on the eve
of Golden Jubilee of India’s independence
I was invited by the Indian Government to
demonstrate and showcase the Sambalpuri Ikat
at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco,
USA. I have also worked towards spreading
awareness for Sambalpuri Ikat and trained many
young weavers too. I have published articles
in souvenirs, magazines and newspapers and
even published a book titled
Bandha Shilpi Ra
Videsa Anubhuti
that describes the technique of
Ikat weaving, which is now in the syllabus of
Sambalpur University.
Today, most things are done quickly without
love and passion. However, our craft demands
patience and skill. It remains a challenge for
weavers to create an awareness of Sambalpuri
Ikats as often customers opt for inexpensive
sarees of a similar pattern that are produced on a
power loom. Depending on the intricacy of the
motifs, a hand-woven Sambalpuri Ikat saree takes
between a few days to a year to create and weave.
My son Tanmayanand Meher and wife Shantilata
Meher are also weavers and National Award
recipients and are carrying forward the tradition.
We are involved in weaving as we believe we are
creating works of art. We believe the Sambalpuri
Ikat – like the respected Konark Temple that is
known the world over – is a symbol of Odisha
and Odiya art and culture, and we are committed
to preserving our heritage.
Depending on the intricacy of the
motifs, a hand-woven Sambalpuri
Ikat saree takes between a few
days to a year to create and weave.
