India claims that the famous and traditional Tangail saree of Bangladesh was originated from it's West Bengal state. This baseless claim is done by its The Ministry of Culture. However, this strange claim of the country has been widely debated and criticized. Many people in Bangladesh protested against it.
Tangail sarees have a long tradition and history. It is one of the oldest cottage industries in Bangladesh. The history of this saree weaving dates back to the British period. But at the end of the nineteenth century, it spread widely.
Many weaving communities in Bangladesh are involved in Tangail saree weaving. Among these, the oldest weaving community is the Basak community of Patrail in Tangail. Another traditional industry of Bangladesh is muslin. The descendants of these muslin weavers are basically the old weavers or artisans of Tangail.
Besides, it is clear from the name where the origin of Tangail saree is. However, it is true that during the Partition in 1947 and during the Liberation War of 1971, some weavers went from Bangladesh to West Bengal. They started making Tangail sarees there. But the name of the saree remains that Tangail. This history of sari has been highlighted by the Indian media Anandabazar Patrika.
But now it has been claimed by India as belonging to West Bengal. A Facebook post by India's Ministry of Culture on Thursday (February 1) claimed that the handwoven traditional Tangail saree originated in West Bengal.
However, a huge debate has started on the Facebook post containing such a claim by the Ministry of Culture of India. Many have criticized and protested it. The post has received nearly 3,000 comments since it was published around 2:30 pm on Thursday. Almost all of these protest and criticize Indian claims.
Most of the comments say, the name of the saree is Tangail. And that Tangail is located in Bangladesh. This is the birthplace of the Tangail saree, not in West Bengal. Besides, many others termed this claim as 'strange and ridiculous'.
One post said, Tangail saree is our tradition. By using it in your (India's) own name, you are doing injustice. I hope you will come out of this wrong decision very soon. Another wrote, "It's really disappointing that they're claiming this." He also said,
Mahatma Gandhi's Swadeshi movement in 1906 aimed at boycotting cloth made in Lancashire, England. As a large number of people responded to that call, the weaving industry of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) flourished. That does not mean that Tangail saree is from West Bengal.
He also said, "The history of Tangail saree is ancient. These weavers are descendants of traditional Dhakai muslin weavers. Their original residence was in Dhamrai and Chauhatta of Dhaka district. At that time the weavers went to Tangail on the invitation of the zamindars of Delduar, Santosh and Grinda areas and later settled there. This saree came to be known as Tangail saree after Tangail, a subdivision of undivided Mymensingh. The Tangail saree is not West Bengal in any way.'
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