Read our main blog on Pochampally Ikat - a different weave.

The Boodan Movement

Before the 1970s, Pochampally mainly produced cotton ikats, and the color came from all natural sources. With the 1970s introduction of silk into the fabric, the Pochampally sari became famous, as did the tiny village of Pochampally. The Pochampally village is also historically famous for the Bhoodan movement which took root there in 1951, post Indian independence. Acharya Vinoba Bhave, (a well-read scholar, broadminded writer, often considered a successor to Mahatma Gandhi) while travelling across the country to spread the message of non-violence and human rights, met with landless poor villagers from Pochampally.  Bhave’s talk convinced a local landlord Shri Vedre Ramchandra to donate 100 acres of his own land to the poor villagers.  Out of this one instance sprang the Bhoodan movement, in which zamindars and rich farmers were urged to provide land to poor farmers. Pochampally was renamed Bhoodan Pochampally !

Traveler’s notes for Pochampally 

It is better to carry cash to these weaving villages for easy transactions. No fancy restaurants, so take lunch and water for sure. We didn’t even bother looking for a bathroom so cannot share info about facilities. There were a few small local street cafes (we didn’t want to risk it) but we found one bakery which sold amazing egg puffs and cake - protein and sugar sufficient for more hours of shopping.  I realize now that we missed the Pochampally Handloom Park Ltd., a government factory with around 200 craft workers. A reason to return to Hyderabad.  

“Cotton Sari – Pochampally” a Design Resource on Tie and Dye Weaves by Professor Bibhudutta Baral NID R&D Campus, Bangalore, gives a very detailed description for those who wish to know more.

You can check out videos on YouTube but I’m hoping that my pictures will weave a story for you as well.