India, Feb. 21 -- About the Book

Book: Hanging by a Thread

Author: Tho Mu Si Ragunathan

Publisher: Niyogi Books

Price: Rs 650/-

The English adaptation of Tho Mu Si Ragunathan's Tamil novel "Panjum Pasiyum," Hanging by a Thread, is a realistic account of the hardships that Tamil Nadu's handloom weavers endured in the 1950s. Due to a complicated web of political and economic constraints, this was a particularly difficult moment for these artisans. Ragunathan's work stands as a significant document of its time, vividly illustrating the weavers' plight and their resilience in the face of adversity.

The novel meticulously details the numerous obstacles confronting the handloom industry. Weavers faced stiff competition from the burgeoning...