The Bora Community

Requiring extreme amounts of labor, hemp cultivation, spinning and weaving decreased in popularity throughout the 18th and 19th century as new fibers were being introduced to the market. Nicknamed, the ‘quello delle centro operazioni’ or "substance of a hundred operations" by Italians, hemp plants require significant care and attention to grow properly.

Although they share many cultural similarities with neighboring castes, the Bora are, in some ways, culturally unique. They speak a distinct dialect of Kumaoni, the local language, and have some unique religious traditions.

Today, the Bora are classified as an “Other Backward Class" by the Indian government, a designation used to classify castes that are socially and educationally disadvantaged. As such, they receive some benefits in the forms of government schemes.

However, despite these benefits, life in this remote region remains extremely challenging. Many villages, including Digoli, are inaccessible via road, and the closest major city to the region (Delhi) is over 460km away. There is minimal economic activity in the area, and few livelihood opportunities beyond farming and manual labor.

For many, hemp cultivation held emotional, as well as economic, value for the community. One village woman, Lalita, shared fond memories of taking hemp products to fairs in the area, where they could sell it or exchange it for other goods. For many in this isolated region, such trips offered a rare chance to see the outside world, while also generating valuable income.

For some, hemp was a lifelong tradition, passed down from generation to generation. One Bora woman, Raduli, started working with hemp when she was 15 years old. She worked with every aspect of the production process, from growing, to spinning, to weaving. Through this craft, Raduli says that she was able to provide for herself and her children. Although the craft was difficult, Raduli took immense pride in its challenges, and the skills required to create these durable fibers.

Mr. Anh Singora, a villager elder, noted that there are three uses for hemp: seeds for consumption, the fibers for textiles, and the bud for smoking. Yet in the government's eyes, the third use was sufficient to ban the entire crop, denying his community an important source of income. Still, despite the villagers' anger, after the ban, hemp cultivation began to wane.

Even with the recent legalization, few believe that the traditions around hemp will be revived. Legal barriers notwithstanding, many in the younger generation of Boras have little interest in cultivating hemp because it is so labor-intensive.

Some in the older generations mourn this change. Noting the durability of hemp fabrics, Raduli claimed that sacks made from hemp typically last from 10-15 years, while their plastic replacements rarely last longer than 6 months. Others, such as Mr. Anh Singora, celebrated the craftsmanship surrounding hemp cultivation and production, noting that “the beauty of handmade things is important.”

But for younger generations, hemp is “old”, and the labor-intensive demands of its cultivation and production significantly outweigh its cultural value.

Although the craft of spinning and weaving textiles has somewhat diminished, others have found new avenues through which to use these traditional skills.

Avani, an organization dedicated to creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural areas, opened a center in 2004 for weaving silk and wool scarves, shawls, and sarees. Through this center, many women have been able to transfer their traditional knowledge of spinning and weaving hemp to this new craft, generating a valuable source of income for themselves and their families.