Gamosa – A marker of Assamese Identity

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• Gamosa
• What is Gamosa?
• Why the gamosa wraps the Assamese society together?
• Gamosa gets GI tag

Why in news?

• Recently, there were protests in Assam this week after a newly formed literary body called the Bangla Sahitya Sabha, Assam (BSSA) used a ceremonial scarf to felicitate guests.
• This scarf was created by sewing together half an Assamese gamosa and half a Bengali gamcha.

Gamosa

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What is Gamosa?

• The traditional Assamese Gamosa/Gamusa or Gamucha is one of the most recognisable cultural symbols of Assam. 
• It is a white rectangular piece of cloth with embroidered red borders. 
  • The red border is called the “anchu” and is believed to be the sign of Ahom strength.
• There are a total of nine types of Gamosas used for different occassions. 
  • These are – Uka Gamosa, Phulam Gamosa, Bihuwan Gamosa, Tiyoni Gamosa, Pani Gamosa, Anakota Gamosa, Telosh Gamusa, Jor Gamosa and Xadharon Gamosa.
• While most Gamosas are made of cotton, few utilized in special occasions are made from Silk too.
• While it has a lot of uses, it is mostly used as an article presented to guests, elders, family or friends on special occasions as a sign of respect.

Why the gamosa wraps the Assamese society together?

• Symbol of Assamese cultural identity
  • The gamosa is considered a symbol of Assamese cultural identity and is revered for multiple reasons.
  • It has a deep symbolic value in Assam, be it religiously, socially or culturally. 
  • Socially, it is gifted as a symbol of mutual respect and solidarity.
• Special relationship with the Vaishnavite culture
  • It also has a special relationship with the Vaishnavite culture in Assam. 
  • The axon, the main place of worship, is considered incomplete without one. So, there’s a lot of emotion attached to it.
• Gamosa became a symbol of Assamese sub-nationalism
  • During moments when Assamese sub-nationalism took centre stage, the gamosa was prominently used by protesters as a marker of Assamese identity.
  • E.g., During the Assam Agitation of the early 1980s and more recently, the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the state.
• The rise and rise of the gamosa
  • The gamosa has traversed beyond Assam: 
    • to Delhi (on account of being Prime Minister Modi’s favourite accessory) 
    • to the tracks of Finland (when athlete Hima Das won her historic gold in July 2018) and 
    • even to outer space (when NASA astronaut Mike Fincke — married to an Assamese — performed Bihu aboard the International Space Station in 2004).

Gamosa gets GI tag

• In December 2022, gamosa has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the central government.
  • A GI is tagged to primarily agricultural, natural or manufactured products, handicrafts and industrial goods originating from a definite geographical territory.

Q1) What is GI tag?

 A GI tag refers to a Geographical Indication tag or a Geographical Indication mark. It is a form of intellectual property right that identifies a product as originating from a particular region, territory or locality, where its quality, reputation, or other characteristics are significantly influenced by its geographical origin.

Q2) What is Vaishnavite culture?

Vaishnavite culture is a religious and cultural tradition within Hinduism that centers around the worship of Lord Vishnu, one of the major deities in the Hindu pantheon. The term “Vaishnavite” comes from the Sanskrit word “Vaishnava,” which means a devotee of Vishnu.

Source: How a ‘hybrid’ gamosa sparked protests across Assam | Indian Express | Hindustan Times | Indian Express