CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese

Weaving School, Thiruvalla

‘The War to End All Wars’ was over in 1918. It changed the world forever in so many ways, empires destroyed, countries abolished, enormous destruction of human lives and property happened, borders redrawn, industries collapsed, nations faced an economic crisis. It affected people in every corner of the world.

In the time of family system, traditional values and ethics were struck, a legacy of hope, learning, and commitment started from an idea of a visionary leader and CMS missionary Rev. W. S Hunt on the verandah of the Hawksworth Bungalow atop the Thukalassery hill in Thiruvalla, India.

He started the weaving section on 18th September 1918, with just one loom and Rs. 50 investment as part of the CMS Middle School run by the Central Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India. It was his mission to uplift the society from poverty, provide a livelihood to people, and teach students job-oriented work while learning in the school after the first world war.

Then director of schools Ramaswamy Iyer visited the school and learned about activities of weaving section. He issued the order to include weaving as an optional subject in the regular academics from class 3rd to 7th class. S. Vedamony from Nagercoil was appointed as the first teacher and later he became the first headmaster of the school.

It was one of the best social work programs of the diocese and CSI Sabha used to select 6 children from their various parishes to give training in weaving with boarding in the school.

In 1923, Diwan of Travancore T. Raghavaih detached weaving learning from the education department and brought under the industries department. A separate building was constructed in 1925 for weaving school with the fund provided by its founder Rev. W S Hunt.

With the selfless hard work of school staff and incredible leadership of Rev. W S Hunt, the school became one of the leading and prestigious weaving schools in and outside of Kerala in the 20th century. The weaving school rendered valuable services to the people by providing them training in handloom weaving and spinning. Many people started their weaving work after trained from school. There are high-quality textiles including bed sheets, cotton shawls, cross-stitch cloth, pillow covers, towels, and other clothes made from this institution. There was a time when all the products were exported to other countries and sold across India. The main item of its sales was hospital bed sheets, school practiced door to door sales of its products in the Central Travancore region in those days.

It would be nostalgic for some people to remember a person who used to come in their houses with a bundle carrying lots of handmade pieces of clothes including their mother’s favorite cross stitch cloth made by master weavers at the weaving school. A fragrance of a new color from clothes was magical that stayed in drawing rooms, bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and bathrooms for so many years without fading its charm and their long-lasting durability made as people’s favorite products when there were no negotiations for premium quality.

The school faced financial difficulties due to the rise in the price of raw materials and overcame various other problems but today weaving school is running successfully against all odds under the collective leadership. Despite all the hurdles and tough competition, the school is getting good orders, especially for bed sheets from people and various hospitals in Kerala.

Today anyone can witness the 100 years of glorious journey with all the charkhas and weaving equipment in use at school which all bought in the starting time. Currently, the weaving school is regarded as one of the best traditional institutions in India, which was not only a source to learn the art of weaving but also a source of earning to numerous people from all walks of life irrespective of caste, creed, sex, social status, political beliefs, and ideologies.