The Story of Tussar Silk – The Golden Thread of India

Issue #10, 2023                                                                              ISSN: 2581- 9410 Tussar silk in India is valued for its unique rich texture and natural deep gold colour, which offer the perfect insulation in light winters. It’s a complete ecosystem where one witnesses a journey through the entire process of farm to fabric. I got introduced to tussar silk in a quaint weaving village in Coastal Odisha called Gopalpur in Jajpur district back in 2009. As I took a walk around the village, the first thing I noticed was a Gram Devi - the female deity that is positioned at the centre of the village. Beautiful Jhoti (wall art) painted with rice paste adorned the mud walls of thatch-roofed houses. Children played on the streets with bicycle tyres and sticks. The village is dotted with young and old women sitting in groups on their porches, working on the spinning charkhas and chatting. They are all spinning Tussar silk. One can hear the constant rhythm of the handlooms being worked on by skilled weavers merrily weaving hand-spun tussar silk yarns into luxurious fabrics in their humble homes. India proudly stands as the largest producer ...