Strong Backs Magic Fingers: Traditions of Backstrap Weaving in Bangladesh

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Strong Backs, Magic Fingers: Traditions of Backstrap Weaving in Bangladesh’ provides an overview of backstrap weavers and weaving in Bangladesh. It includes accounts of weaving by the Bawm, Chak, Chakma, Khyang, Khumi, Lushai, Marma, Mro, Pangkhoa, Tanchangya and Tripura, who dwell in the Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban regions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, as well as of the Manipuri community who live in the northeast of Bangladesh. Profusely illustrated, the volume provides an insight into the communities engaged in backstrap weaving as well as glimpses into the painstaking process involved. Alongside photographs of contemporary textiles are historic pieces from private and public collections. Each indigenous community has its traditional garments and textiles. However, social and economic changes are increasingly threatening the lifestyle of these communities and endangering their craft. This volume has been written in the hope that it will raise and awareness of the situation of indigenous weavers as well as an appreciation of their traditional weaves. Only thus can their traditional designs be preserved and the weavers themselves be adequately rewarded for their painstaking work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Niaz Zaman

Niaz Zaman is Professor of English, University of Dhaka. She was Consulting Editor, Arts and Humanities, for the National Encyclopedia Project of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Her venture into translation began in 1983, with her translation of Bangla folk tales, subsequently revised and published as Princess Kalabati and Other Tales. She has edited Selected Short Stories from Bangladesh, The Escape and Other Stories, and 1971 and After. Her other publications include A Divided Legacy, a study of novels on the Partition of India, which won literary awards from the National Archives and the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Her articles and stories have also been published in books and journals at home and abroad. Her short story "The Dance," which is the title story of her anthology The Dance and Other Stories, won a Asiaweek short story award. She was also editor of the Bangladesh Journal of American Studies.

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Bibliographic information

Title
Strong Backs Magic Fingers: Traditions of Backstrap Weaving in Bangladesh
Author
Edition
1st ed.
Publisher
ISBN
9847011000091
Length
164p., Col. Illustrations; 21x29cm.
Subjects