Pochampalli in Andhra Pradesh is famous for its double ikkat tie &Dye saris with intricate designs and eye catching colour combinations. These saris are made in cotton and silk and also zari is used in some designs. The process of tie & dye in Pochampalli tradition of weaving saris involves transferring of designs from the graph sheet to the thread in a way which enables the weavers to tie where colour is not require before dyeing the silk thread. This is a laborious and critical activity as at present the marking on thread is done manually. Every weaver is not capable of marking the designs on the thread especially if the designs are complicated. More often than not, weavers tend to select simple designs for ease of marking and hence do not get price for their saris. For two saris marking is done simultaneously and it takes almost two days in manual method.

Chintakindi Narendar, son of weaver family of Pochampally tradition was observing the manual marking process from his childhood. The pain and the resistance to new designs were evident as the marking involved lot of patience and concentration. Right from the childhood, he wanted to do something in this regard to obviate the discomfort of weavers. He wanted to make marking so easy that every weaver would be happy to undertake marking even for complicated designs.

Narendar, a school dropout and a grassroots innovator has developed an “Automatic Marking device for Asu machine” after a long struggle of two years. The machine is an attachment to the Laxmi Asu machine innovated by Ch Mallesham. A stylus with ink mounted on the device marks the entire thread on the asu machine according to the programme loaded on the chip. The chip is placed in a chip reader which provides commands to the stylus operating mechanism. Stylus stops at the specified location on the thread and ink is then ejected on to the thread. This mechanism makes the job of marking simple as the weaver only has to ensure that the right design is selected from the choice of designs provided to him on the chip. Rest is automatic and accurate too. What is done in two days by a weaver is completed in one and half hours by this device and that too with no involvement of the weaver. This device is a real blessing to the weavers.

Narendar’s innovation will have far reaching effect with high impact on the Pochampalli sari industry. Adoption of new designs however complicated they are would be easy. This would result in weavers weaving saris with new designs constantly and meeting the aspirations of the women. While this device directly contributes to the growth of the industry, it also provides higher incomes to the weaving families due to adoption to new designs. While the economic impact would be substantial due to Narendar’s device in the short run, the higher rate of growth of pochampalli sari tradition will be a certainty in the long run.

The comfort, high impact on economy, higher rate of growth of sale of saris are the few benefits Narendar’s Innovative device will bring to the weavers of Pochampalli tradition of saris. This innovation will bring revolutionary changes in the sari industry and its utility is likely to be extended to man other sari weaving traditions.

Efforts of Narendar are laudable for creating a bright future to the weavers of Pochampalli and his innovation deserves recognition of highest level. Coming from humble background and delivering a device which provides large benefits to his community is an outstanding achievement which needs recognition by the Society. This way, we ensure more such grassroots innovators come forward with appropriate and affordable ideas for the benefit of the society at large.