Traditional Dhunias in Tripura face livelihood crisis as demand for handmade cotton quilts declines due to modern blankets, rising costs, and changing consumer preferences, threatening an age-old winter craft and cultural heritage.
Carding of cotton under the timid sun in mornings once used to be a common sight of winters in Tripura. The Dhunias (Cardtenters), mostly from Bihar, used to travel thousands of kilometers away from their homeland in search of livelihood in this part of the land.
Since traditional cotton made mattresses and quilts were omnipresent in the households of the state, a significant number of locals also opted this trade as a source of livelihood. But, with the new age modern blankets replacing the old comfort garments of winters nowadays the scope of livelihood of the Dhunias also shrunk substantially over the years.
With the onset of winter, neighbourhoods across the state used to resonate with the rhythmic sound of cotton being fluffed by cotton carders. Piles of cotton, wooden platforms, the steady movement of the bowstring and soft cotton fibres floating in the air together signalled the arrival of winter and the season of quilt-making. Today those nostalgic scenes have somewhat become a thing of the past in the urban areas.
However, in the rural pockets, including parts of Kalyanpur block, where a handful of artisans continue to practise the traditional craft the lively visuals are still available. Some work from small roadside shops, while others move door to door, trying to sustain a profession inherited from their forefathers.
Earlier, more than a hundred workers in and around Kalyanpur block were engaged in making quilts. Preparations would begin well before winter, with male workers fluffing cotton and women stitching the quilts. The work often continued from morning till late night, and the weekly market at Kalyanpur bustled with wholesale quilt sales.
However, after the year 2000, demand for cotton quilts began to decline steadily. Over the past 25 years, the market has been largely taken over by a variety of domestic and imported blankets. At present, only three or four artisans remain active in place of the earlier hundred.
Rising raw material costs have further worsened the situation. The cost of making a standard four-to-five-hand quilt ranges between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000, while larger quilts cost between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500. In contrast, modern blankets are readily available in the same price range, prompting buyers to prefer machine-made alternatives.
Veteran artisan Nepal Pal of Kalyanpur market said that earlier, income earned during the three winter months was sufficient to sustain a family for the entire year. “Now, orders are so few that it has become extremely difficult to run a household,” he said.
Consumers, however, cite convenience as the main reason for shifting preferences. According to buyers, modern blankets and mattresses are lighter, easier to wash and more hygienic, with a lower risk of allergies. As a result, many opt for mattresses instead of traditional cotton quilts, even if they are slightly more expensive.
Seasonal migrant workers from Bihar, who once travelled to Kalyanpur during winter and moved from village to village making quilts, have also been hit hard. Where 8 to 10 quilts were once made daily, production has now dropped to just 2 to 4. Liaqat Khan, a migrant worker, said that daily earnings earlier ranged between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000, but income has fallen sharply due to lack of work.
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Despite these challenges, a section of people still swear by the warmth of cotton quilts. Elderly residents, in particular, believe that no matter how expensive a blanket is, it cannot match the comfort of a traditional quilt.
For many, more than just a winter necessity, the cotton quilt represents an integral part of Bengali winter culture.
