Restorer of Light in City of Silk

Chandra Jain is bringing back natural dyes to Banarasi handloom, and protecting the artisans' wellbeing and also the environment

- By MALLIK THATIPALLI

Banaras, the City of Light, illuminated the sensibilities of Chandra Jain for 25 years.

Her deep engagement with the traditional weavers of Banaras handloom was sort of a salvation for the craft. Though Jain doesn’t see herself as a savior, her efforts to revive Banarasi handloom craft is reflected in her exhibition, River Weaves: Brocades of Banaras, at the Bangalore International Centre, where she attempts to weave heritage brocades into the fabric of changing times, celebrating the rich artistry of Banarasi handloom and ecological practices that are slowly withering away.

Curated and designed by Chiara Nath and Siddhartha Das of Siddhartha Das Studio, the exhibition, through its main protagonist, the saris, invites visitors to look beyond the finished piece and care about what went into its making. There are emblematic saris—the ones we associate with Banarasi brocade—as well as those nearly forgotten ones, distinguished by fading colour palettes, natural dyes, and rare weaving techniques.