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Bijiyashanti Tongbram

  • Writer: Nidhi Shegokar
    Nidhi Shegokar
  • Aug 27, 2023
  • 2 min read

In specific regions of Manipur, India, the extraction of Lotus Silk Fiber takes place. The propagation of the practice of Lotus fibre extraction in Manipur's Bishnupur district has been championed by a 27-year-old woman named Bijiyashanti Tongbram. Located a short distance from her residence is Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Northeastern region. This lake is renowned for its array of small islands known as phumdis and the profusion of lotus blossoms within its waters. Acquiring the skill of lotus stem fibre extraction and thread spinning, Bijiyashanti established her own enterprise named 'Sanajing Sana Thambal,' along with a determination to impart this knowledge to fellow women in her village. Her endeavours encompassed months of online video watching and study to comprehend the process of gathering lotus stems, cleansing them, and extracting fibres.



To expedite garment production, Bijiyashanti envisioned sharing the method with other women in her locality, thereby engaging and empowering the local community.




Bijiyashanti recalls that in 2019, she disseminated information within her village, attracting the participation of seven women whom she trained in fibre extraction and weaving techniques. The word then spread to neighbouring villages, resulting in the training of a total of 15 women, ranging in age from 22 to 50. By January 2020, she had trained 40 individuals, with 20 of them continuing to engage in thread-making activities. Seven among them operate from her home-based unit, while others possess their own wooden tables and spinning wheels for fibre extraction. She purchases the extracted fibre from them, utilising it to craft neckties, scarves, and even planning the production of face masks. The weaving process for these garments employs traditional bamboo-based looms. Bijiyashanti aspires to establish an online store to showcase and sell the products she is currently crafting, with the added ambition of eventually expanding to international markets through product exports.




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