His fleet of a dozen pair of helping hands is now no more around. Frozen in time is his lone charkha and handloom that gave him company and livelihood for more than six decades. Adjacent to the structure where the lone loom stands, is his grocery shop; now his only source of income.
Baburao Babaji Tilve’s wait for the ‘Kalakar’s Sanman’, the state cultural award, pension for artists and artisans or any type of financial assistance from the government, has long ended. “I applied twice, in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and submitted my papers to the Directorate of Art and Culture but unfortunately there has been no response. I don’t have the heart to try again,” says the octogenarian.
Baburao “ the once famed weaver from remote Paliem in Mandrem constituency in Pernem taluka “ is left with only fond memories of the good old days when his handloom was running every day and he weaved vibrant colours into the white cottons. “After I got a paralytic stroke and lost almost the half side of my body, I couldn’t weave anymore. It was two years ago. Neither my brother Soma nor any of my three sons “ Ravindra, Dilip or Dyneshwar, has sat on the loom since then,” reveals Baburao, who suffers from diabetes and high BP.
Prominent among the handful of weaver families in Paliem, Tilves were into handlooms for nearly a century. Baburao’s late father Babaji, a noted weaver in the area, hired artisans and weaved dethalis, castis, les, tuwal, kapda, pancha, chadar etc. “Mahambre from Mapusa was the sole wholesale dealer who bought the stock from us and distributed to other retailers across Goa,” recalls Baburao who learnt the skills of weaving as a kid and joined the family vocation at 18.
Towels, handkerchiefs, bed sheets, loin cloth, sarees, scarves, stoles apart from yards of cloth “ until recently he weaved all of it. Exhibiting carefully some last samples of his creativity, Baburao fondly unfolds his art and explains how much time and efforts have gone into weaving each piece. In the good old days, Tilves purchased a bundle of thread weighing five kilos from Belgaum for Rs 20-30 each depending upon the thickness of the thread. “Today the cost is in thousands,” adds Baburao, adding, “It’s unaffordable to continue weaving looking at the exorbitant costs of both raw material and labour. The organic and vegetable dyes which are in great demand these days are rare and very expensive, too. Also one has to go to Sawantwadi to procure them.” The chemical colours used earlier were either raw or permanent.
Baburao’s sons have mastered the art of weaving. However none of them is interested to claim the legacy. The eldest of six siblings Baburao had taken to weaving in his teens. “It used to take us a day to weave one Dethali of five yards and get Rs 15 after selling it,” points out Baburao’s younger brother Soma Tilve, 65. With the family loom breathing its last, Soma is jobless now.
The power looms started with the support of the state government brought the curtains down on handloom business. Since then the Tilves suffered setbacks. The receding demand for traditional Dethali (tribal weave) worn by the original settlers of the region, the Kunbi and Gavda community, has pushed the weavers further towards unemployment. This red and white tribal wear has disappeared over time due to caste discrimination. The women in the community no longer wear it either.
Baburao recalls when fashion designer Wendell Rodricks had showcased the Kunbi sarees on the ramp as part of his spring/summer collection in Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhi some years ago. It had created a wave and evoked interest in saree enthusiasts like Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Nandita Das. But soon after the project got over Baburao suffered the paralytic stroke. “For this project I was provided the raw material, designs and patterns which I weaved sitting here on my handloom,” says this content weaver.
Turning philosophical he points out to the sky and smiles, “He is the greatest unseen weaver who has weaved the threads of joy and sorrow into our lives. I am grateful to Him for whatever He has offered “ no more colours, no more dreams!”
