I want our people to stand tall, not just as weavers but as business owners
On a quiet afternoon in Sreemangal, surrounded by tea gardens and the sounds of nature, I met Radhabati Devi. Her small workshop, tucked away in a peaceful corner, felt like a special place where creativity came alive. Radhabati sat by her loom, her hands moving smoothly, as if they were in tune with the earth itself.
Radhabati Devi, an artisan from the Manipuri community in Moulvibazar, is no ordinary weaver. She is the creator of the “Kolabati Saree,” a beautiful piece of clothing made from banana plant fibers. As I watched her work, I was amazed by how something so simple could turn into something so extraordinary. With every thread she wove, she wasn’t just making a saree; she was telling a story of strength, creativity, and hope.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. Radhabati grew up in a small village where resources were limited, but her imagination was endless. She learned weaving from her mother, who always told her, “The earth gives us what we need, and it’s our job to make something out of it.” These words stayed with her, guiding her as she experimented with different materials.
One day, while peeling bananas for her family, she noticed the fibers in the plant. An idea came to her—what if she could turn these fibers into something beautiful? After many tries and a lot of hard work, she figured out how to extract and spin banana plant yarn. The result was the “Kolabati Saree,” a 13.5-cubit-long, 2.5-cubit-wide masterpiece that took 10 to 15 days to make using just 1kg of banana plant yarn.
When Yasmin Parvin Tibriji, Bandarban’s deputy commissioner, heard about Radhabati’s creation, she was inspired. She named the saree “Kolabati” in Radhabati’s honor and decided to gift the first one to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. “This isn’t just a saree,” Yasmin said. “It’s proof of what our people can achieve when we mix tradition with new ideas.”
But Radhabati’s dreams don’t stop at sarees. She imagines a future where banana plant yarn is used to make all kinds of things – curtains, bags, mats, and even shoes. Her work isn’t just about art; it’s about helping her community. The indigenous people in the hilly areas, who are often forgotten, now have a chance to earn a living through this eco-friendly project.
As I sat with Radhabati in her Sreemangal workshop, she shared her hopes for the future. “I want our people to stand tall, not just as weavers but as business owners,” she said, her eyes shining with determination. “And I want the world to see that even the simplest materials can create something amazing.”
Her story is a reminder of how powerful human creativity can be and how important it is to care for the earth. It shows us that great ideas don’t always come from big cities or fancy labs; sometimes, they come from quiet places, shaped by hands that know how to listen to nature.
As I left Sreemangal, I took with me not just the memory of Radhabati Devi but also a stronger belief in what people can achieve when they dream big. The “Kolabati Saree” is more than just a piece of clothing; it’s a symbol of hope, a bridge between the past and the future, and a reminder that when we respect the earth, it gives us the tools to turn dreams into reality.