Ahmedabad: In a tale that beautifully blends tradition with innovation, Bhojrajbhai Damjibhai, a differently-abled Mashroo weaving artisan from Gadhshisha, Kutch, has been honored with the esteemed National Handloom Award 2025. He received this accolade for his remarkable work in reviving the rare Bharasai Mashroo design, a 400-year-old floral motif that was once believed to be lost to history. The award ceremony took place on the 11th National Handloom Day (7 August 2025) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. It was presented by Union Textiles Minister Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Textiles, Government of India, Shri Pabitra Margherita, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles, and attended by Smt. Kangana Ranaut, a Member of the Lok Sabha.
Bhojrajbhai acquired the art of Mashroo weaving from his father, Damjibhai, who incorporated this craft into Khadi production in Kutch. Having been affected by polio in his childhood and later taking on the responsibility of caring for his younger brother, who also has a disability, Bhojrajbhai’s life has been molded by both resilience and the soothing sounds of the loom.
When Mashroo weaving was on the brink of extinction in the 1990s, largely due to the rise of mass-produced power loom imitations, Bhojrajbhai was determined to preserve the art form. Lacking corporate support, he independently sought out markets, trained young men and women in his village, and equipped them with the necessary tools, transforming his home into both a workshop and a school dedicated to heritage preservation. Even a struggle with cancer could not deter him from his passion for weaving.
In 2023, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), through its flagship initiative supported by HSBC, ‘Handmade in India’, aimed to lead the revival of Mashroo. Bhojrajbhai was selected as a beneficiary, where he received advanced training in design development, exposure to innovative yarn options, and access to fresh design layouts. In May 2025, acknowledging his dedicated efforts in revitalizing the Bharasai Mashroo design, Bhojrajbhai sought assistance from EDII to apply for the National Handloom Award. The project team at EDII collaborated closely with him to create a thematic sample product and craft a persuasive application.
Bhojrajbhai stated, “Receiving this award is a moment of pride not only for me but also for every Mashroo weaver dedicated to preserving this tradition. Thanks to the support from EDII, I was able to revive a design dear to my heart and elevate our craft to a national platform.”
With champions such as Bhojrajbhai and organizations like EDII connecting tradition with opportunity, India’s textile heritage is not only preserved but also intricately woven into the nation’s future.