Dilip Barooah (5 August 1957 - 19 August 2020) was an Assamese author and Social Entrepreneur who is credited to be the pioneer of manufacturing of Eri Silk in the North East of India.[1][2][3][4]
Dilip Barooah was born August 5, 1957, in Margherita, Assam, in northeastern India. Dilip studied at the Assam Textiles Institute. In the early eighties he worked at a textile mill in Mumbai as a manager and then moved to Germany and South Africa. He came back to Assam to advance the industrial growth supported by the government of Assam.[9][10]
Barooah founded Fabric Plus Pvt Ltd in Mumbai in 2003.[3] Adding value to local raw materials with innovation had Fabric Plus catering to fashion giants like Armani, Hugo Boss, Just Cavalli, Chopard and Moschino among other brands. As a social entrepreneur for Chhaygaon, Barooah helped the region's growth. The Eri silk spinning mill impacted the lives of 350 spinners and weavers and benefitted 4,500 people engaged in producing silk/cocoon and marketing.[11] Barooah played a significant role in redefining the term "sustainable silk" and its "authenticity".[12][13]
Up-cycling of reeling waste from Muga silk was a new process introduced by Dilip. By up-cycling the waste procured from the silk reeling process, Dilip was able to convert them back into yarns. This practice was the first achievement of its kind with Muga silk.[14]
Dilip also established Rudrasagar Silk Ltd with the help of the Textile Ministry of India to produce High quality Eri and Muga Silk.[15]
Dilip Barooah died on 19 August 2020 at around 11:30 pm due to COVID-19 related complications.[17]