The photograph, created in 2019, comes from the on-going “Steep Price” series. This series explores the working and living conditions of Muslims in Varanasi who rely almost exclusively on the success of silk weaving business. 

Since 2012, with the support of several leaders of the Muslim community, the photographer has been given access to the social pillars of their community (e.g., Madrasa and dispute resolution council), master weavers’ workshops, and many weaver family households. They shared with her their way of life, traditions, and concerns regarding the dim prospects of an activity passed through generations, and recently threatened by both industrialization and globalization. In weaver family homes, everyone over the age of 10 contributes to the tasks. Men are assigned with the physically strenuous works such as weaving while women do embroidery and clean up the textile surface. Children quit school to support the weaving family business. In one room, family members representing up to 4 generations weave together, from the grandfather, father, and son, to the grandchild. This business model based on craftsmanship and family household is seriously at risk and threatened the livelihood of almost the entire Muslim community in Varanasi.