Indian Textiles: Past and Present

DETAILS : 

• Author: G. K. Ghosh 
  
• Publisher: ‎ APH Publishing Corporation
  
• Publication date: ‎ 1 January 2011
  
• Language: ‎ English
  
• Print length: ‎ 306 pages
  
• ISBN-10: ‎ 8170247063
  
• ISBN-13: ‎ 978-8170247067
  
• Item Weight: ‎ 450  g

ABOUT THE BOOK

Indian Textiles: Past and Present, authored by the highly versatile scholar and technocrat Dr. G.K. Ghosh (often co-authored with Shukla Ghosh), is an authoritative socio-economic and historical study of India's magnificent handloom and textile legacy. Published by APH Publishing Corporation, this comprehensive volume traces the evolution of Indian fabrics from ancient times through the colonial era up to contemporary post-independence developments. The core philosophy of this text is to showcase textiles not merely as commercial commodities or wearable fashion, but as a living canvas reflecting India’s diverse cultural fabric, religious mythology, and regional identity. Ghosh approaches the subject with a unique blend of historical reverence and technological analysis, documenting how indigenous weaving, spinning, and dyeing methods survived centuries of political upheaval and aggressive foreign industrialization.

The book is structurally mapped out across India's unique geographical zones, providing an encyclopedic overview of regional textile heritages. It methodically moves from the exquisite woolens and pashminas of the North to the intricate tie-and-dye Ikat and Patola traditions of the West. The narrative deepens as it explores the legendary cotton Muslins and Jamdanis of the East, alongside the grand temple silks like Kanjeevaram and Pochampally from the South. Each regional analysis dives into the specific raw materials used—such as mulberry silk, wild Tussar, and organic cotton—while detailing indigenous embellishment arts like block printing, Kalamkari, and Zardozi embroidery. Crucially, the text does not ignore modern economic realities; it dedicates significant analysis to the decline of traditional artisan clusters under British colonial policies and discusses contemporary challenges including mechanization, copyright theft of tribal designs, and the socio-economic welfare of modern weavers within India's rural handloom cooperatives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. G.K. Ghosh is an elite Indian researcher, environmentalist, and prolific writer who served for decades as a senior official with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). With a professional background rooted in both chemical engineering and cultural anthropology, he has spent a lifetime traveling across rural and tribal India to document, preserve, and revitalize traditional village industries and indigenous crafts. He has authored dozens of highly regarded books, including Tribal Textiles of Northeast India, Biopesticides, and Beekeeping in India.

Dr. Ghosh’s authorial and analytical style is incredibly detailed, socio-politically conscious, and deeply empathetic toward rural artisans. Writing as an expert cultural guardian who bridges historical field research with practical industrial policy, he meticulously documents exact production processes, local nomenclature, and folklore associated with specific weaves. By balancing technical textile parameters with a passionate defense of sustainable, eco-friendly grassroots craftsmanship, his collective literature remains an invaluable reference manual for textile designers, fashion historians, anthropologists, and policy makers working in the handloom sector.