No work, No business, No food on the table

 Survival and sustenance, like two sides of a coin, are forever the motivating factors that propel the actions of one and all. A cyclic activity, as it may seem but forms the core of our existence.

The need to live makes man search for food, and the need for food makes him search for the means he can acquire. While other elements may blur the path, making things murky with greed and desire, the basic needs of man cannot be denied or ignored. The trials and hardship of the breadwinner speak of his perseverance in protecting his own.
The upper crust of the society high up in the social class ladder remains oblivious with perfunctory charities that appease their sense of duty while continuing with their lives driven by the thirst of luxury and somewhere the fear that one day it might all disappear. And as the saying goes, the higher you go, the more painful the fall.
The middle-class society, often the neither here nor there category of people, remains torn between wanting more and being grateful that they are not fighting for their existence.
But for the struggling section of society, every day is a battle. Every evening a time for Thanksgiving, for they see "Food on the table". To these people, beauty is the smile on the faces of their beloved when they can afford the extra dish or perhaps even a day of the unskipped meal.
While the battle with the constant enemies is a known and expected one, the unprecedented natural calamities worsen the already pathetic situation.
A life dependent on daily labour ground to halt, waiting for the scathing skies to soften its blows and the lashing rains to lower its whip, and the slumbering sun to shine bright again.

For craftsmen like our weavers who need the optimal temperature to work with delicate gossamer threads, too much or too little can be a turntable, which we know pretty well. Although they revere their working place and keep it well protected, there is only so much they can do, and they will have to wait for days to clean the looms which may not have escaped the relentless attacks of the heavy downpours in Kanchipuram. A wet loom is worthless because it could cause grave damage to the yarns and loom articles, thereby the fabric.

The cramped places they work are certainly not the best, but it's the cradle of countless creations, and while we at AHC want to do so much, there is only so little that we can accomplish, although we keep trying our best.
The talented craftsmen of our country, the treasure we should cherish on a pedestal, the ones who should command and control every art lover, remains at the mercy of the patronage and pittance displayed. While too much of anything can lead to autocracy, too little of anything can also lead to agony.
Our history speaks of the power and prestige of our artisans, which even today remains unmatched; however, the danger of extinction is a red flag popping up in many fields due to poverty and hunger.

To the artisans of today, especially the weavers of handloom, the entry of power loom and the lack of patronage of traditional wear manufactured in the old traditional way and due to many reasons like high costs, maintenance and perhaps fashion has resulted in them struggling for mere survival. The struggle to survive has taken over their pride and dignity in their craft.
But our sarees speak of our determination, they are a reflection of the dreams of our master craftsmen, and they are also a symbol of the success of one more person joining our growing army of passionate protectors of a heritage that craft enthusiasts must preserve with pride.
While many still try to keep the flames of passion remain kindled, let us all strive to support and sustain these treasures so that they are motivated to not only pursue this art but also pass it on to the next generation and keep it alive with the confidence that Artisans will forever grace their table with the necessity.
AHC strives to send a thought to the creator of wonder drapes, a prayer for their well-being and hopes for their happiness. Just as they filled our hearts with joy, let us also join hands in helping these craftsmen bring joy to their homes.
Let the food on the table of these gifted people be graced by our passion for the art and artisans, for they never cease to spread the delicious food of fulfilment in our lives - our table of timeless treasures.