GUWAHATI: Tezpur University organised a threadbare discussion on the challenges to revive the cultural artefact Gamocha at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati on Friday. University Grants Commission has awarded the project titled ‘STRIDE Component -1’ to create research capacity and human resource development on the intellectual property of Gamocha and develop disruptive innovation in its supply chain.
Speaking in the consultative workshop, Dithakananda Hazarika, Managing Director of Assam Government Marketing Corporation Ltd (AGMC) stressed on the socio-cultural identity of Gamocha among different communities of Assam.
Prof. Birinchi Kumar Medhi discussed the historic evolution of Gamocha and its present desecration due to its creative destruction. IPR Chair Professor Pritam Deb explained the outreach activities of Tezpur University IPR Cell and the revival of GI status granted to Muga silk.
Dr. Mridul Dutta, Project Coordinator, UGC STRIDE Comnpoent-1 and Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration, Tezpur University elaborated the mission of the project and management intervention.
On the other hand, Xhattradhikar Janardan Devagoswami urged on working together and institutional collaboration required to revive the heritage of Gamocha. The workshop was attended by about 47 weavers of Chariduar area of Sonitpur district. These expert weavers presented their supply chain problems to the forum. The discussion was attended by Prof. Joyshankar Hazarika of Darrang College,handloom retailer Bhaskar Dutta Goswami, educationalist Shantikam Hazarika, Satriya dance guru Gopalkrishna Goswami, founder of Indian Weavers Alliance Mr. Saumar Sarma, Secretary of Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Sudarshan Thakur, Dr. Sriparna B. Baruah of Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Lolly Hazarika of Assam State Museum, handloom entrepreneur Maitreyee Adhyapak, Dr. Subhra Devi, Assistant Curator of Tezpur Unversity and Mr. Pranjit Saikia, CWC member of ULFA.
Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University, Prof. Vinod Kumar Jain attended the event virtually. This project aims to institutionalise traditional cultural expression of heritage Gamocha, enact legislative support, administrative safeguards through statute to empower weavers, Gamocha supply chain, and restrict desecration of its cultural heritage. The project will directly impact about 400 households in the handloom cluster of Chariduar Revenue Circle of Sonitpur District.
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