Hemoprova Chutia, an ordinary village woman from Assam, has achieved remarkable feats. Hemoprova Chutia, a handloom weaver from the Moran area of Dibrugarh district, has made a unique contribution to the field of literature, culture and arts of Assam by weaving sacred texts one after another, including the Srimad Bhagavat-Gita and Namghosha, on her loom.
She has been weaving these invaluable religious books of Assam, not only in Assamese but also in English and Sanskrit. The fabric woven with letters can aptly be called ‘Barnabastra’ (letter-cloth). She started this artwork in 2013 and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2023 by the Government of India for her remarkable contributions and dedication.
She was born on September 22, 1955, in Photikachowa Abhoypuria village, Maoran, in Dibrugarh district. Her father was a primary school teacher. She learned to weave clothes on a handloom at the age of 11 and studied till her matriculation. While most Assamese women traditionally weave essential items like gamosas, chadors and mekhelas, Hemoprova Chutia ventured beyond these boundaries. In addition to this, Chutia took on extraordinary tasks like crafting ‘barnabastra’.
How did Hemoprova Chutia’s journey of making a barnabastra’ start?
On July 22, 2013, Hemoprava Chutia started her journey of making ‘barnabastra.’ Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardev’s ‘Gunamala’ marked the beginning of this. She describes this beginning as follows:
“From a young age, I had a strong desire to achieve something unattainable. However, I had no specific goals or accomplishments in mind. I have been weaving and making clothes since I was about 11 years old. It was in 2013. One night, after dinner, I was going to bed, and I saw someone ordering me to make the book of Gunamala on the loom. It is still unclear whether I saw it or heard it. I’m still uncertain whether it was a dream or a manifestation of my mind’s power. I kept it a secret for a month, unsure of how to proceed. Eventually, I confided in my two sons about my concerns, and they responded positively, encouraging me to proceed and offering their full support. Thus, with great dedication and discipline, I began the Gunamala documentation on 22nd July 2013, offering my prayers to the Gurujana in the Gosai Ghar and observing fasting.
She didn’t just stop at transforming the book ‘Gunamala’ into cloth. She started presenting one Assamese scripture after another in the form of ‘barnabastra’.
Hemoprova Chutia prepared the books in the style of ‘barnabastra’
Hemoprova Chutia first wove the ‘Gunamala,’ composed by Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, in the loom with black wool yarn on muga cloth. This Varnavastra ‘Gunamala’ is 80 feet long and 18 inches wide.
Then, using black wool yarn and muga cloth, she created the ‘Namghosha,’ a composition by Mahapurush Madhavde, measuring 200 feet long and 2 feet broad.
She later prepared the ‘Srimad Bhagavatam Gita’ as a ‘barnabastra’ in English and Sanskrit. In the case of the ‘Srimad Bhagavatam Gita,’ she draws green thread letters on muga cloth. The English ‘Srimad Bhagavatam Gita’ is 280 feet long and 2 feet wide, and the Sanskrit ‘Srimad Bhagavatam Gita’ is 150 feet long and 2 feet wide.
Recently, Hemoprova Chutia completed the weaved form of ‘Gunamala’ in English. Hemoprova Chutia weaves the 230-foot-long ‘barnabastra’ on eri silk using bamboo sticks in the bani (width) direction. The Gunamala has 6 chapters, 4 woven with bamboo sticks and 2 with eri yarn.
Honors to Hemoprova Chutia
Hemoprova Chutia has received recognition for her unique contribution to arts and literature through weaving at both state and national levels. In 2023, the Government of India awarded her the Padma Shri.
Earlier, in 2021, the Assam government honored Hemoprova Chutia with the Asom Gaurav, the third-highest civilian honor in the state.
The Government of Assam awarded her the Handloom and Textile Award for weaving in 2016, the Aai Kanaklata Award in 2017, the Bakulban Award in 2017, and other accolades from various organizations.
Hemoprova Chutia has contributed immensely to literature, arts, and culture with her exceptional work and diligence. Such an artist is a source of pride not only for Assam, but for the entire country. Hemoprova Chutia continues to create new and remarkable works with her promising efforts. Her endeavors are truly unique. However, it is the collective responsibility of all of us to preserve these contributions.