Published by: Asian INCH Encyclopedia.
https://globalinch.org/article/conurbation-of-zari-craftsmen-at-varanasi/
Author: Kirti Pandey
Varanasi, a city rich in heritage and culture boasts of being the cradle of the art of handloom weaving for centuries. Today the Banarasi handloom has acquired international fame, hailed as the “Indian sun” in the world of fashion. However, over time cheap quality machine made imitations of the traditional products flooded the markets, reducing the demand for handloom .This has forced the shutting down of most looms and traditional weavers have migrated to cities for pursuing other livelihood options.
In the present study, the author has clearly outlined and documented the daily lives of the weavers’ by expanding on their socio-economic conditions, personal problems that affect their health and economic well-being.
Most of the craftsmen are migrating towards Delhi or Lucknow for higher payment. They are running in search of payment but simultaneously they are losing their social life their family life and suffer in regular up down.
The term “conurbation” was coined as a neologism in 1915 by Patrick Geddes in his book Cities in Evolution. He drew attention to the ability of the (then) new technology to allow cities to spread and agglomerate together.
