Dilip Barooah (5 August 1957 - 19 August 2020) was an Assamese author and Social Entrepreneur who is credited to be the pioneer of manufacturing of Eri Silk in the North East of India.[1][2][3][4]

Dilip Barooah at ISU (International Silk Union)

Publications edit

  • South Asian Ways of Silk: A Patchwork of Biology, Manufacture, Culture and History [5][6]
  • Indian ways of silk : precious threads bridging India's past, present and future [7]
  • Understanding Morphology, next to Skin Comfort, and Change of Properties during Washing of Knitted Blends of Eri Silk[8]

Early life and career edit

Dilip Barooah was born August 5, 1957, in Margherita, Assam, in northeastern India. Dilip studied at the Assam Textiles Institute. In the early eighties he worked at a textile mill in Mumbai as a manager and then moved to Germany and South Africa. He came back to Assam to advance the industrial growth supported by the government of Assam.[9][10]

Barooah founded Fabric Plus Pvt Ltd in Mumbai in 2003.[3] Adding value to local raw materials with innovation had Fabric Plus catering to fashion giants like Armani, Hugo Boss, Just Cavalli, Chopard and Moschino among other brands. As a social entrepreneur for Chhaygaon,  Barooah helped the region's growth. The Eri silk spinning mill impacted the lives of 350 spinners and weavers and benefitted 4,500 people engaged in producing silk/cocoon and marketing.[11] Barooah played a significant role in redefining the term "sustainable silk" and its "authenticity".[12][13]

Up-cycling of reeling waste from Muga silk was a new process introduced by Dilip. By up-cycling the waste procured from the silk reeling process, Dilip was able to convert them back into yarns. This practice was the first achievement of its kind with Muga silk.[14]

Dilip also established Rudrasagar Silk Ltd with the help of the Textile Ministry of India to produce High quality Eri and Muga Silk.[15]

Awards/Recognition edit

  • Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award[12]
  • True Legends Awards 2016 Northeast [16]

Death edit

Dilip Barooah died on 19 August 2020 at around 11:30 pm due to COVID-19 related complications.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-assam-tribune/20200927/282368337087305. Retrieved 2021-02-02 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ "Dilip Barooah, Assam's pioneering ahimsa silk entrepreneur dies of coronavirus". NewsFileOnline. 2020-08-20. Archived from the original on 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  3. ^ a b Singh, Bikash. "NE silk finds place in global map". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  4. ^ "Dilip Barooah, Assam's pioneering ahimsa silk entrepreneur dies of coronavirus". NewsFileOnline. 2020-08-20. Archived from the original on 2021-08-03. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  5. ^ "South Asian Ways of Silk: A Patchwork of Biology, Manufacture, Culture and History". Silkworm Books. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  6. ^ "South Asian Ways of Silk – NIAS Press". Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  7. ^ Zethner, Ole; Koustrup, Rie; Barooah, Dilip (2014). Indian ways of silk: precious threads bridging India's past, present and future. Bhabani Print & Publications. ISBN 978-93-81139-79-0. OCLC 783722912.
  8. ^ "Understanding Morphology, next to Skin Comfort, and Change of Properties during Washing of Knitted Blends of Eri Silk | van Amber | Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management". Archived from the original on 2018-11-19.
  9. ^ Leader, The Weekend. "Sick of MNC culture, a textile engineer returns to his roots to help the people". www.theweekendleader.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  10. ^ WoW (19 November 2018). "Fabric Plus: Taking Eri silk to the World". Women on Wings. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  11. ^ Leader, The Weekend. "Sick of MNC culture, a textile engineer returns to his roots to help the people". www.theweekendleader.com. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  12. ^ a b "Ahimsa eri toast of West - Assam silk endorsed for preserving life of worm". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  13. ^ "Textile firm targets 50000 jobs". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  14. ^ "Municipal waste generation has been slowly decoupling from economic growth". doi:10.1787/888933484547. Retrieved 2021-02-03. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. ^ Excellence, Textile (2019-02-26). "Silkline for Textile Sector in NE India: Smriti Irani Inaugurates Rudrasagar Silk Mill". Textile Excellence - Textile & Apparel Newspaper / Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  16. ^ "Twelve Northeast true legends honoured". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  17. ^ Desk, Sentinel Digital (2020-08-20). "Assam: Silk entrepreneur Dilip Barooah passes away due to COVID-19 - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.