The 21st episode of Impulse Model Entrepreneur Stories shines a spotlight on the remarkable journey of Arubam Bindi, a master weaver from Manipur. Through her weaving enterprise, Sanjenbam Sangshabi Weaving, Bindi has dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Manipur’s rich cultural heritage. This episode, directed by documentary filmmaker Lewis Levent Özcan, captures Bindi’s unwavering passion for weaving and the challenges she has faced as an entrepreneur.
Arubam Bindi began her weaving journey at the young age of 15, inheriting her skills and passion from her mother, who passed down the family’s weaving legacy. Today, Bindi is the sole custodian of this tradition, specialising in the intricate art of weaving Wangkhei Inaphi, a traditional women’s garment known for its delicate plain weave with extra weft. Each piece of her work is a testament to her craftsmanship, selling for around Rs. 7,500.
Despite her expertise, Bindi’s business faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted her income. Although she has a presence on Facebook, she has yet to explore the potential of online marketing for her business. With the right guidance, Bindi is eager to learn how to leverage platforms like Meta to expand her reach and grow her business.
The episode is part of the Impulse Empower initiative by Impulse Social Enterprises, which captures the untold stories of small and medium businesses across Northeast India and North Bengal. The initiative showcases how local entrepreneurs, like Bindi, are contributing to their region’s economy and creating jobs. These entrepreneurs are key drivers of economic development, helping to build resilient markets that prevent unsafe migration and exploitation in the region.
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Lewis Levent Özcan, the director of the episode and an Impulse Empower Incubation Hub Entrepreneur in Residence, travelled across the eight northeastern states and North Bengal, documenting stories of system change. His work highlights the inspiring efforts of individuals like Bindi, whose dedication is helping to preserve cultural heritage while fostering economic upliftment.
Produced by Impulse NGO Network, with support from Meta India, this episode is part of a broader effort to empower local entrepreneurs. New Life Foundation Manipur served as the state partner for the project, while Impulse Model Press Lab and EastMojo acted as media partners, helping to amplify these inspiring stories of entrepreneurship.
As the episode showcases, entrepreneurs like Arubam Bindi are not just preserving traditions but also driving change in their communities, proving that cultural heritage and economic development can go hand in hand.
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