Most Read

From deep in the heart of Rangamati

Another accolade for Shorat Mala Chakma
4 April 2004, 18:00 PM
LIFESTYLE
By Fayza Haq
4 April 2004, 18:00 PM
Shorat Mala displaying the craft of weaving to foreigners
Shorat Mala Chakma, 63, who has won many prizes since her Pakistan days, has bagged one more accolade. This prize is for weaving and the exhibition has been arranged by SAARC Women Entrepreneur's Council. Shorat Mala has been getting awards wherever there have been crafts exhibitions; and she has had such prizes every year whenever there has been an occasion for her to display her handloom fabrics. These exhibitions have been held at the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh and even overseas. 'In the process I have travelled to London, Birmingham and Bradford (UK), Italy and other places in Europe since 1958; and by now, I have about a dozen prizes,' she says.

Shorat Mala has been making pinone (skirts), khandi (blouses), shawls and other apparels at Rangamati every year since the outset of these area-wise competitions. Elaborating, she says: 'During these fairs, other crafts persons, came from Rangamati and the nearby villages. These were something parallel to present export fairs (held in Bangladesh), but were known simply as 'exhibition'. The prizes used to be given by the District Commissioners and they were held till 1971. After the Liberation War, I continued to weave and exhibit and participated at the local craft fairs.'

Dwelling on the overseas prize Shorat Mala says, 'I got the 'Karu Shilpi Exhibition' award in 1988. The Bangladesh Small Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and the Bangladeshi High Commission had arranged this.' Continuing to give an account of her achievements she says, 'When I went to London, an exhibition had been arranged by the Crafts Council and the Commonwealth Institute at a large auditorium. I took my back-strap loom (komor taat) and wove sitting at London; I made my clothes before the viewers, and sold my items there.' She stayed there for a month at the exhibitions, which were held at London, Birmingham and Bradford.

Google News LinkFor all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

Talking about her overseas experience, Shorat Mala says she went to Rome, Venice and Milan (Italy). There were then repeat performances of her craft display. The Bangladeshi Ambassador at Italy had been so impressed by Shorat Mala's work, that she was invited to Italy from London. In addition, BSCIC had a hand in arranging the exhibitions in Italy. She has also won the National Award for a crafts exhibition in 1985. The award had been arranged by BSCIC.

How did Shorat Mala get interested in weaving? Asked to dwell on the beginning of her interest in weaving, Shorat Mala says, 'Since the age of seven I've been making back-strap looms, which were not on the large scale as what I have been doing as a teenager and adult.'

Shorat Mala Chakma is better known in Dhaka as the mother of well-known painter Konok Chanpa Chakma. Having had the pleasure of meeting her for the second time -- once in Rangamati and again in Dhaka -- one can only wish more power to her loom.