At a time when most young people are moving toward modern careers and technology-driven jobs, traditional crafts like handloom weaving are slowly disappearing from rural India. Once a common sound across villages, the rhythmic movement of handlooms has now nearly faded from the rural landscape.
Amid this decline, Ramlal, a resident of Darati village in Palampur subdivision of Kangra district, has been preserving the traditional art of shawl weaving for more than three decades. Despite limited resources, he has continued practicing and promoting this heritage craft with dedication and passion.
Ramlal recalls that due to weak financial conditions at home, he had to start working at an early age to support his family. During that period, he decided to learn traditional shawl weaving, a skill that later became his lifelong profession.
He began learning the craft at the Devbhoomi Spinning Fair in Kullu, where he acquired the basics of shawl weaving. Over the years, he worked at various places and learned from experienced artisans, mastering both weaving techniques and traditional design patterns.
During his professional journey, Ramlal also worked with a company in Chamba, where he trained several youths and women in shawl weaving for nearly two years. Many of his trainees continue to earn their livelihood through this craft, which he considers one of his proudest achievements.
Today, Ramlal continues to produce traditional shawls and woolen fabrics using handloom methods. He explains that shawl-making is a complex and time-consuming process involving multiple stages — from procuring wool and cleaning it to spinning, dyeing, weaving, and designing. Each shawl requires precision and patience and takes several days to complete, using around five to six meters of fabric.
He specializes in traditional Kullu and Kinnauri designs and also creates fabric for suits with customized patterns. According to him, handmade shawls crafted through traditional methods can sell for ₹14,000 to ₹15,000 in the market due to the detailed craftsmanship involved.
Deeply attached to his work, Ramlal hopes to pass this traditional skill to future generations. He plans to establish a small training center equipped with two to four weaving machines to train unemployed youth from nearby villages, helping them find employment while preserving Himachal Pradesh’s rich weaving heritage.
Ramlal sources raw wool mainly from Kullu and sells his products locally as well as through shawl traders. Along with traditional designs, he now aims to experiment with modern patterns to keep the craft relevant in changing market trends.
He remains hopeful that with proper support and awareness, this centuries-old handloom tradition will continue to survive and thrive in the years to come.
