It is said that “the best teacher one can have is necessity” and no doubt, man has learnt from nature the beautiful art of inter working indigenous materials to create objects for his personal use and existence. Stretches of tall grasses growing all over the world and providing sustenance to animals, birds and insects also stirred the imagination of man who, taking a clue from innumerable examples offered by Mother Nature through the intricate weaving of nests by birds, gossamer webs by spiders, the natural criss-cross weaving patterns of branches of trees, leaves and twigs, and the intertwining of grasses and reeds, saw possibilities within the reach of his nimble fingers to use the abundantly growing vegetation to make baskets, mats, ropes and what not.
The origin of weaving can be traced back to a period earlier than the origin of pottery – one of the earliest creations of man. Archeologists claim that there is evidence for the use of woven baskets in Faiyum in Upper Egypt more than ten millenia ago. This has been a primitive folk craft common to every region – whether in hills or in jungles, in uplands or in marshes people have preserved the tradition and art of basket-weaving to the present day to meet the needs of people.
Of the lesser known weaving grasses in India, is the Sabaii Grass, scientifically called Ischaemum augustifolium, mostly found in the Mayurbhanj area of West Bengal, and in Northern parts of Odisha. When we talk of weaving grasses, what comes to our mind are the traditional ones like...
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