Sericulture is as old as the tradition of weaving amongst the Bodos.

Photo by Bodo Media

Bodo women have been spinning indi silk extracted from the cocoon of the indi silkworm (Philosamia Ricini) and this culture has always been helping rural = economy.

Statistics from the department of Sericulture in BTC state, with more than approximately fifteen hundred thousand women working in the sericulture sector & related activities it constitutes the largest female workforce in the region.

The need of the hour is to work out strategies to organize this rich tradition of the Bodos keeping into account the commercial aspects of today's market. A spinning mill by the name of 'INDI LUO' has been set up at Kokrajhar -and this can be a good linkage between buyers & sellers of indi cocoons at a good rate for the encouragement of the farmers.

Plantation of indi- silk-worm food plants like castor, tapioca, and kesseru are yet to begin scientifically in the true sense of the term and this is creating difficulty for the reapers of indi worms who are mainly the village folk.

If a spinning mill has come up, the process of the plantation should begin soon. History says it is indi-silk which opened the world trade to the Bodos (Bhutan & other traders came to Bodo villages to collect indi cocoons till the last century) and again it is the potentiality of indi-silk which may one day make Bodoland the indi-silk zone in the world map.

And also read: The Contribution of Bodo culture to Indian Culture

Known as Ahimsa Silk, this silk is known for its elegance, comfort, and natural fibre. It is thermal static and easy to wear. Other than its own rich characteristics and can also be blended with fibers to be diversified into a range of products both for summer and winter wear. It is for its vast potentialities indi has been declared as 'SILK OF THE MILLENNIUM' by Central Silk Board.

Muga silk or the golden thread is extracted from muga worm (Antheraea assama) and is endemic to the climate of Assam. The exclusive muga-silk fabrics were used by the Bodo noblemen.

Presently, Kokrajhar produces good quality of muga silk. With its good price in the market, muga rearing should be encouraged in the region. Unfortunately, tones of indi & muga cocoons are being smuggled out under the very nose of our law where the middlemen buy these valuable raw materials at very low prize thereby discouraging the farmers to discard these traditional activities.

Words by Partibha Brahma

( This Article was published in The Voice of Bodoland ' Daily English Newspaper ' Dated: August 17,2016 )