Veldi Hariprasad is a handloom worker from Sircilla who makes amazing creations. He comes from a family of weavers and he grew up listening to the sound of looms. He got interested in making miniature looms and started experimenting with them. He made a small loom that was only ten centimeters long and weighed two hundred grams. He also made wheels and warp for the looms. He added features like being able to run on cell batteries and working and stopping when clapped. In 2000, he was allowed to exhibit the small looms and wheels by the Central government.
Hariprasad’s micro art has earned recognition from many famous people. He has made souvenirs of micro handlooms for film actor Balakrishna, former President Pranab Mukherjee, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Chief Ministers KCR, Chandrababu Naidu, Rajasekhar Reddy, Roshaiah and Chiranjeevi. Currently, he is making sarees for a company in New Zealand which cost around Rs. 5,000 to 8,000.
Hariprasad has experimented with power loom weaving as well. He wove a Bathukamma figure on a Bathukamma saree in 2018 and made a picture of Konda Laxman Bapuji on a loom for an award given by the textile department with a Telangana figure embroidered shawl.
Hariprasad received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki baat’. Modi also mentioned Hariprasad’s name for the wonderful gift he received from the leader at the G-20 summit last year.
Hariprasad has made many beautiful sarees with gold and silver linings and symbols of gods printed as per the client’s choice. The price of sarees ranges from Rs 130,000 to 26,00,000. He also made a silk fabric called Jana Gana Mana in Telugu during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav last year and received praise from NRIs.
Hariprasad is currently using a rented premises for his workshop and living on rent. He hopes that the government will give him port in the form of allotment of land so he can inform future generations about this dying art.
