Travel Back in Threads with Sujini

Sujani embroidery traces its roots to the village of Bhusara in Bihar- situated less than 100 kilometers from the epicenter of Mithila painting. This craft was established around the era of 1920s when Rajput women whose primary roles entailed fulfilling domestic duties and nurturing their families found solace by honing their proficiency in embroidery. Subsequently, these women utilized Sujani techniques to fashion quilts and blankets that served as comfort items for newborns and young children. Sujani's methodology of uniting layers of aged fabric embodies two classic beliefs. On one hand, it calls upon Chitiriya Ma—the deity hailed as 'the Lady of Tatters.' This divine invocation represents an integral Indian principle portraying every interconnected piece as part of a larger whole. Conversely, this technique offers infants a velveteen embrace akin to their mother's loving touch. The term 'Sujani' also captures this ethos: ‘Su’ translates roughly to ease or facilitation while 'Jani' signifies birth.

Weaving the wonders

Sujini embroidery utilizes an exclusive running stitch known as kantha. The development stage commences with the selection of base fabric, followed by charting out designs on the topmost layer by employing tracing sheets, tracing wheels, and blue chalk for precision results. The motifs are further highlighted using meticulously crafted chain stitches and hemming stitches. Sujini Embroidery features the weaving of complex designs with traditional and contemporary motifs ranging from nature symbols to geometric shapes that often shed light on social injustices like dowry violence or forced marriages. Through their art, they juxtapose struggle and hope, showing empowered women succeeding in business, speaking at events, and serving justice in courts. Each creation tells a powerful tale of resilience and victory over hardship.