https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Rehwa_SocietyRehwa Society - Revision history2026-10-30T00:10:19ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rehwa_Society&diff=530234&oldid=prevFrederickdube: Put up data2026-01-09T01:27:57Z<p>Put up data</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian not-for-profit foundation}}<br />
[[File:Looms at Rehwa society, Maheshwari handloom sarees weavers society, Maheshwar.jpg|thumb|200px|Looms at Rehwa Society, Maheshwari handloom sarees, Maheshwar]]<br />
'''Rehwa Society''' is a not-for-profit foundation, working with weavers in [[Maheshwar]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]. Established in 1978, by Richard and Sally Holkar as a weaver's [[society]]. It is known for its Maheshwar [[saree]]s, in silk and cotton.<br />
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==History==<br />
[[File:Maheshwar fort.JPG|thumb|left|210px|Ahilya Fort at Maheshwar, where the Rehwa Society is located]]<br />
The weaving history at Maheshwar, dates back to Maharani [[Ahilyabai Holkar]], the ruler of princely [[Indore State]] from 1765 to 1795. She brought in weavers from [[Surat]] in Gujarat and [[Mandu, Madhya Pradesh]] and established them at Maheshwar, to weave special nine-yard [[sari]]s ([[Navvari sari]]s) for the ladies of royal household, and turban fabric.<ref name=om/><ref name=bus03><br />
{{cite web| title = The shuttling looms of Maheshwar |publisher=The Hindu Business Line| url =http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/07/01/stories/2003070100531800.htm |date=Jul 1, 2003| accessdate = 2014-02-16}}</ref><br />
[[File:Handicraft shops at Dastkar Nature Bazaar, Mehrauli.JPG|thumb|170px|Rehwa Society outlet (left) at [[Dastkar]] Nature Bazaar, Mehrauli, Delhi ]]<br />
The tradition was revived, when the Rehwa Society was founded in 1978, by Richard Holkar of [[Holkar]] dynasty and his wife Sally Holkar. Using a grant from the Indian Central Welfare Board, they started with eight looms and eight women weavers from the local Meru community. It is situated within the Ahilya Fort at Maheshwar, on the banks of the [[Narmada River]]. Over the years the society has expanded to 250 weavers, most of them women and 110 looms. It is known for weaving Maheshwari sarees and fabric in cotton and silk.<ref name=om>{{cite book|title=Omkareshwar and Maheshwar: Travel Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_0RpUoGiou4C&pg=PA76|year=2011|publisher=Goodearth Publications|isbn=978-93-80262-24-6|pages=76–77}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Romantic Maheshwar: Maheshwar Madhya Pradesh |publisher=Conde Nast Traveller, CNN Traveller| url = http://www.cntraveller.in/content/romantic-maheshwar| accessdate = 2014-02-16 }}</ref><!-- Royalcruft 13 --><br />
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Sally Holkar managed the society till 2003, when we established WomenWeave Charitable Trust, also based in Maheshwar.<ref><br />
{{cite web | title = Being Sally Holkar |work= The Hindu| url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/being-sally-holkar/article2790243.ece |date=January 11, 2012| accessdate = 2014-02-14 }}</ref> Thereafter, Mira Sagar who has worked with Rehwa for 20 years, remained the director of Rehwa Society, before starting her own line in 2012.<ref name=spell/><ref>{{cite web | title = Rich new weaves |work= The Hindu| url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/fashion/rich-new-weaves/article3717216.ece |date=August 2, 2012| accessdate = 2014-02-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Weaving a silken success |publisher=The New Indian Express| url = http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article585669.ece#.UwDpgtKSyAo | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140303183328/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article585669.ece#.UwDpgtKSyAo | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 3, 2014 |date= August 9, 2012| accessdate = 2014-02-16 }}</ref><br />
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Today, Rehwa Society has retail outlets in cities like New Delhi and Mumbai, and in 2003 has a turnover of {{INR Convert|1.5|c}}.<ref name=bus03/> Since the society is non-profit, the profits are used in employee welfare. A small colony of 45 houses has been built for the employees, which the weavers paid through their work. Besides a school till eighth standard and a creche has also been built.<ref name=spell>{{cite web | title = Weaves cast a spell| url = http://www.hindu.com/mag/2008/03/02/stories/2008030250110500.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516234537/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2008/03/02/stories/2008030250110500.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = May 16, 2008 |date= March 2, 2008| work = [[The Hindu]]| accessdate = 2014-02-16}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Khadi]]<br />
* [[Khādī Development and Village Industries Commission]] ([[Khadi Gramodyog]])<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist|2}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [https://rehwasociety.org/index.html Rehwa Society, Official website]<br />
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[[Category:Cooperatives in India]]<br />
[[Category:Handloom industry in India]]<br />
[[Category:1979 establishments in Madhya Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Organizations established in 1979]]<br />
[[Category:Non-profit organisations based in India]]<br />
[[Category:Organisations based in Madhya Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Khargone district]]</div>Frederickdube