75ft long ‘fabric of unity’ enters world records

Nagpur: Teachers, doctors, lawyers, students, housemakers were among some 1,426 individuals of different backgrounds and different age groups in Nagpur who had an unique weaving experience recently.
Together, they tried their hands (and legs too) on handloom set-up and weaved a 98-ft long intact cloth to mark the 75 years of India’s independence. They have named this cloth as ‘Fabric of unity’.
“Our target was to weave a 75 ft intact cloth between April 18 and August 15, but the ‘Josh’ of Nagpurians was so ‘high’ that they completed 75 ft target way ahead of our deadline. Finally today, we stopped at 98 ft and a complete new record was made,” said Manish Karandikar, who coordinated this novel project-cum-world record feat for the Maharashtra State Handloom Corporation Ltd.
From April 18 which was celebrated as world heritage day, handloom-loving Nagpurians were coming to the backyard of the Corporation’s office at Umrer Road and used to weave on a dedicated loom kept for this purpose in this premises.
“Handloom is our heritage. So, we decided to start on heritage day. We had expected limited response so kept 120-odd days to complete this 75-ft target. But, people came in a large numbers and made us proud,” said Shital Teli-Ugale, Commissioner of textiles for Maharashtra State.
“We have used all seven colors of the rainbow in this fabric. We are planning to stitch jackets out of it and gift it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and many other national leaders,” she added.
On Wednesday, official adjudicator of the two record books — India book and Asia book of records — visited the venue and recognized the weaving attempt as a world record. “Woven by 1,426 non-weavers, for more than 105 days, this intact cloth of 98 ft is being included in our world record book. This is totally new category. Now onwards, those who want to break this record need to weave more than 98 ft long intact fabric,” said Dr Manoj Tatvadi, adjudicator for Asia book of records and India book of records.
Members of rotary, inner-wheel, Lions club and many other social organizations in Nagpur made it a point to come over and contribute in weaving this ‘fabric of unity’.
“We realized what hard work and dedication is required to weave just a few inches of cloth for which we bargain a lot with the weavers. We also participated in the handloom fashion show and walked on ramp here during the weaving sessions,” said Rucha Deshpande, president of inner wheel club of Nagpur.