Silk City in Crisis: The Dying Art of Bhagalpur Weavers | Witty Chokha

In this ground report from Bhagalpur, Bihar, Witty Chokha journalist Rohit Jha reveals the tragic downfall of India’s famed “Silk City.”
Once celebrated for its exquisite Bhagalpuri silk sarees, the city’s traditional weavers now live in deep poverty, earning barely ₹500 a day after 24 hours of labor.

Through emotional interviews and stark visuals, the report shows how middlemen and traders control the industry, pocketing profits while artisans remain invisible and underpaid.
For many families, weaving is no longer a livelihood but a burden, with younger generations abandoning the craft.

The story captures the pain of artisans watching their ancestral art die a powerful reflection on India’s neglect of its traditional craftsmen.
This isn’t just an economic crisis; it’s a cultural tragedy.
Bhagalpur’s weavers, who once draped India in silk, now struggle to clothe their own children a haunting symbol of forgotten legacy and systemic injustice.