By Imran Khan

Patna, Feb 16 (IANS) The rustle of Bhagalpur silk may never have sounded sweeter to its weavers! The famous tussar from Bihar is set to be an exclusive brand, as its registration enters the final stage of the Global Indications (GI) Act for patenting.

"'The process for GI registration of Bhagalpur tussar silk is under way," Dhananjay Kumar, who works as cluster development official in Bhagalpur, told IANS on phone.

Kumar said patenting tussar silk would help its weavers and boost the silk business. "The registration of the brand name will benefit weavers, who will gain access to more markets and get better prices," he said.

Until a few decades ago, silk manufacturing was a booming business in Bhagalpur, but it has lost to new centres in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

Kumar said GI status for Bhagalpur tussar silk would legally prohibit others from selling anything made at places other than Bhagalpur under the same brand.

The Geographical Indication is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that region.

Bhagalpur silk, also known as tussar silk, has a place of distinction and pride in the world. Hundreds of artisans in and around Bhagalpur are traditionally fabric weavers. Bhagalpur is also popularly known as 'silk city'.

Bhagalpur was on the ancient Silk Route. Its tussar silk is supplied to export houses in Kolkata, Delhi and Varanasi that export it to the Middle East, Europe, Japan and the US even today.

Earlier, the Madhubani painting of Bihar had become an exclusive brand after being registered under the GI Act for patenting.

For ages, rural people, mostly women, from Mithila in Bihar had developed their own tradition of art, popularly known as Madhubani paintings, named after Madhubani district. The tradition is believed to date back to seventh century AD.