Rajavolu Established 1995
Speaking to the past President of the society, Shri Jonnala Venkateswara Rao, he walked us through their journey. Rajavolu is home to a number of looms with excellent quality, weaving all kinds of fabrics, sarees etc., The society would insist that they maintain quality as that ensures the saleable factor. The weavers were appraised on these aspects.
We enquired about the working condition and the type of looms that they use which is the pit type of looms and most preferable as it takes the shock of beating with the heddle. This has become an aging community working on the loom, thus expensive products are not woven these days as the quality will suffer. Quality was and is their usp.
As is the story across AP today, there are no weavers below the age of 30 which means no youngster is coming into this profession according to Venkateswara Rao garu. Rajavolu fabric is of very fine quality that caters to Dastakar Andhra, and we also heard that they used to supply to Malkha of Hyderabad. Until a few years ago, they used to have a complete self-sufficient dyeing and other ancillary units that were needed to make fabric, but they had to close and shift these ancillary units to another place due to issues within the society. Their fabric is plain that comes in beautiful colors, woven in double shades that are very attractive. They make salwar sets and weave Kora of different counts, one of which is fine count 80/80.
Illavaram – Established 1943
The society incharge Srinivas Rao, speaking to us about himself and the society in general Shri Urimi or Udimi Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha of Illavaram, a resident of the place, has been working as an accountant for the last 20 years. He mentioned the society was established in 1943. In his free time he also works on the loom which he has in his house. All his children are married and settled. They have moved to other kinds of works like gold making, painting etc., Most women are going to work on power looms. Their fabric is woven checks in beautiful colours that look like missing checks, with matching plain fabric and dupattas.
Battiprolu
We met Battiprolu manager Shri Batta Rama Rao and his son who had come to help his father on that day. He said that if they are surviving and making profit, it is because of Dastakar, Andhra. Shri B. Rama Rao explained the working system of their society. They keep a catalogue which is made of handmade paper, that is coded for easy identification to take orders. He mentioned that the whole belt right from Rajavolu, Cherukupalli, Illavaram, Battiprolu all cater to Dastakar Andhra which has kept these societies going. They have not gone to exhibitions for the past 15 years because of the patronage of Dastakar Andhra. He explained that power loom fabric was becoming a threat. He proudly said we only have handlooms, and this is the reason why they do not go to exhibitions as power loom fabric is sold for less while theirs is more expensive.
A sumptuous lunch was arranged at Battiprolu in the society President’s house. His family took care of all arrangements. This was done at the behest of his relative of Abhihaara. The hospitality was so warm, we couldn’t help asking what we could do for him as an organisation.
Peteru
consists of individual weavers who have a couple of pit looms in a shed which is attached to their house. This place is very interesting. Some weavers are doing so well with the patronage of influential people from Hyderabad who give them designs and as the saying goes – they disappear off the looms even before they are put on the shelf, which is quite encouraging and we got to see the next generation too involved with the business of handlooms. They have decent houses and seem to be doing well on the surface.
