National Handloom Day was my idea, claims Telangana based designer; writes letter to PM for credit

Hyderabad, Aug 17 (KNN) Y Venkanna Netha, a Telangana based designer who claims to have conceived the idea of National Handloom day, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for due recognition for his idea.

“In order to get a honorable recognition to the handloom community I have conceived the idea of Handloom day in 2006.After a lot of research and concerted consultations I have declared August 7th as the Handloom day as it has historical context and significance attached to it,” he wrote.

This was the second letter in the month written to the PM by Netha.

He wrote, “Your recent speech at US Congress created history on Social media and it was compared to the great Historic Speech of Swami Vivekananda at Chicago in 1893. You clearly articulated that your people are living in great freedom and harmony. But on the contrary to that I am penning this letter out of the insecurity and pain emanated by the response from your PMO and Development Commissioner for Handlooms Ministry of textiles. I am hoping that atleast now I would get some decent and fair response for this letter.”

He further wrote, “I hail from a traditional weaving family in a remote Village of the Telangana State. In order to get an honorable recognition to the handloom community I have conceived the idea of Handloom day in 2006.After a lot of research and concerted consultations I have declared August 7th as the Handloom day as it has historical context and significance attached to it.”

“From 2006 to August 2015 till the time you have launched 7th August as National handloom day in Chennai my prominent role has been there.  Citing the same I have written several letters to you with supporting documents and evidence since 5th May 2015 but unfortunately DCH has been giving me meaningless and indifferent replies,” he said.

“I am further reiterating that if you have an iota of doubt that I am claiming anything that is not true, I am ready to go jail and you can punish me,” Netha added.

“If this extraordinary movement lead by an ordinary citizen like me gets unnoticed and unrecognized its huge insult to the Indian citizens and the progeny of handloom community. If the contribution of the common man gets recognized it’s indeed a great honor to the peoples leader i.e you and to the largest democracy like India. It is in no way disrespectful,” he said.

As we know handlooms can create huge rural employment and here a youngster aged 32 then in 2006 had felt heart fully for it and made sincere efforts in giving it identity and to take the pride of India to the entire globe, he said.

It is now up to you to decide as a promising Prime Minister of the diverse nation to decide what message you want to give the youth of the country by keeping my efforts latent and unnoticed, he added.

Whatever may be your approach, pertaining to this humble appeal of mine, I request you and expect clear response from you and not from Development commissioner for handlooms, Ministry of Textiles etc, Netha concluded.

In his first letter ahead of the National Handloom Day, Netha had urged Modi to take part in the National Handloom Day celebrations in Telangana.

 In his first letter too, Netha had urged the PM to give him the credit for the conception of this idea. (KNN Bureau)