The famous Banarasi silk sarees have got copyrights and have got a registered name as “Banaras Brocades”. In this competitive atmosphere and to ensure for any duplicity and maintain quality, this step has been taken and Geographic Indication (GI) has been awarded to this famous brand of Indian Sari. The GI is a symbol or name used to restrict the geographic locations of certain products and act as a standard certification for products and signifies its qualities and shows the reputation of the product
This step is also taken as the world class Indian Sari brand was facing stiff competition from duplicate tags being used in cities like Bangalore, Bhagalpur and Surat.These places are famous for Indian saree brand and were causing big losses to the original famous Banarasi silk saris industry
This successful step to preserve the famous Indian saree brand is a mutual collaboration of 9 Varanasi based organizations doing banarasi silk saree trade. The list includes Banaras Bunkar Samiti, Human Welfare Association (HWA), joint director industries (eastern zone), director of handlooms and textiles Uttar Pradesh Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Federation, Eastern UP Exporters Association (EUPEA), Banarasi Vastra Udyog Sangh, Banaras Hath Kargha Vikas Samiti and Adarsh Silk Bunkar Sahkari Samiti.These associations filed the application for certification in July 2007 to a Chennai Based GI registry and finally the GI status was awarded on 4th September this year. The certificate was forwarded to the office of assistant director (handloom) and nine organizations who applied for it
According to Rajni Kant, Human Welfare Association (HWA) president, he dedicate this Copyright to the lakhs of weavers and handloom exporters and consumers and this step will prove to have a significant hand in benefiting weavers and also added that a total number of 12 lakh people associated with this business will get benefit due to geographic restrictions. The registration tenure is for 10 years and the Banaras Brocades and Sarees fall in four classes (13-26) that include silk brocades, textile goods, silk saree, dress material and silk embroidery. He further added and appreciated the support of UK-based Find Your Feet, Department for International Development and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) India in securing the GI status
This is not the first time a brand has been given GI status in Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh(UP).Other product includes the famous Malihabadi Dussehri mango. The GI status for this brand of mango has been awarded covering areas like Varanasi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Bhadohi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh districts.
Apart from Eastern up, the famous fabric of Kashmir called as Pashmina has been awarded GI status and traditional Pune Pagadi is also in the list of applicants to apply for GI status by Pune based organizations
The history and heritage of Indian saree and its association with Varanasi goes way back in 14th century during the Mughal period when Banaras (old name) was famous for weaving of cotton saree and dress material and brocades with stunning designs using gold and silver threads.Banaras produces whole range of exclusive varieties like angla, Tanchoi, Vaskat, Cutwork, Tissu and Butidar and
By Mohnish Bohra
Author Can be contacted at mohnish.bohra1982@gmail.com
