Tansukh cloth explained

Tansukh cloth was a fine cotton cloth primarily used for feminine dresses in medieval India, Tansukh is one of the seven explicitly mentioned cloths (khasa, Salu, Doriya, Bafta, Dupatta, and Panchtoliya) named in the exhaustive list of cotton cloths in Ain-i-Akbari.^[1] The bodices made of Tansukh and Bafta are referred by the poet Bhikhari Das.^[2] Tansukh was a woven material with another class of muslin with a very soft and delicate texture.^[3]

Etymology

'Tansuk' or 'Tansukh' means in Hindi language, "comforting to the body" or "pleasing to the body".^{[4] [5]}

History

The Ain-i-Akbari and the contemporary Hindi writers mentioned Tansukh and Khasa, Bafta, Salu, Doriya, Dupatta, and Panchtoliya as notable fabrics of their time.^{[6] [7] [8]} The special quotes some names like chira, fenta gangajal fabric, Tansukh, sari, lehenga, ghagra, etc., signify the use of these cloths in Mughal clothing.^{[9] [10]}

Material and texture

Tansukh was made of fine cotton yarns. The texture of the fabric was very soft and delicate.

Use

Tansukh was a soft cloth made of cotton and it was used for feminine dresses such as bodices (angiya, kanchukis), saris, skirts with a piece of cloth across the breasts. The clothes made of Tansukh were suitable for both outer and inner wear.^[11]

See also

• Bafta cloth
• Khasa (cloth)

Notes and References

1. Sangar. S. P.. 1965. FEMALE COSTUMES IN THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES (as reflected in the contemporary Hindi literature). Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 27. 243–247. 44140630. 2249-1937.
2. Book: Jain, Simmi. Encyclopaedia of Indian Women Through the Ages: The middle ages. 2003. Gyan Publishing House. 978-81-7835-173-5. 197. en.
3. Book: Sharma, Gopi Nath. Social Life in Medieval Rajasthan, 1500-1800 A.D.: With Special Reference to the Impact of Mughal Influence. 1968. Lakshmi Narain Agarwal. en.
4. Book: Pawar. Appasaheb Ganapatrao. Maratha History Seminar, May 28-31, 1970: Papers. University. Shivaji. 1971. Shivaji University. 51. en.
5. Book: Congress, Indian History. Proceedings. 2004. Indian History Congress. 544. en.
6. Book: Panjab University Research Bulletin: Arts. 1982. The University. 90. en.
7. Book: Jain, Simmi. Encyclopaedia of Indian Women Through the Ages: The middle ages. 2003. Gyan Publishing House. 978-81-7835-173-5. 197. en.
8. Book: Congress, Indian History. Proceedings. 1967. Indian History Congress. 243. en.
9. Book: Srivastava, Ashok Kumar. Hindu Society in the Sixteenth Century: With Special Reference to Northern India. 1981. Milind. 118. en.
10. Book: Sharma, Gopi Nath. Social Life in Medieval Rajasthan, 1500-1800 A.D.: With Special Reference to the Impact of Mughal Influence. 1968. Lakshmi Narain Agarwal. 154. en.
11. Book: Shobha, Savitri Chandra. Medieval India and Hindi Bhakti Poetry: A Socio-cultural Study. 1996. Har-Anand Publications. 96. 978-81-241-0367-8 . en.