Tussar Karmakar

My name is Tussar Karmakar and I work out of Bagchi Bagan in Santipur, which is in the Nadia district. If you’re coming this way, just look for Rail Gate No. 2, and we are quite close to that. This is a quiet area for the most part, except for when the trains go by. I’ve lived and worked here in Santipur for a long time. This place is known for its weaving and textile work, and that’s what I spend my time on. It’s a very traditional way of working. I don't have a big factory or many employees. It’s mostly just me and a couple of others working in the space we have. We use the old methods because that’s how we were taught by our elders. It takes a lot of time and patience to get it right. The house is always full of thread and fabric. Sometimes the rail gate being closed slows things down when we need to go out, but we are used to the rhythm of the trains by now. People from around the district know to come here if they want something specific. I don't use any fancy machines, just the ones that have been in the family for years. It’s a quiet life, focused on the craft. We don't have a storefront, just the workspace here near the tracks. It’s honest work and it keeps the traditions of Nadia alive in our own small way. Even when it’s raining outside, we are in here working on the looms.