Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth16 May 1951
Age75 years
BirthplaceTangail, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
ProfessionHandloom Weaver
NationalityIndian
Marital statusMarried
SpouseBani Basak
FamilySon - Abhinaba
Biren Kumar Basak Biography
Biren Kumar Basak was born on 16 May 1951 in Tangail, then part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). His family background was artisanal and modest: his father, Banko Bihari Basak, worked as a weaver of Tangail and Jamdani sarees and also wrote poetry, while his mother managed the household.
Early life and backgroundBiren Kumar Basak was born on 16 May 1951 in Tangail, then part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). His family background was artisanal and modest: his father, Banko Bihari Basak, worked as a weaver of Tangail and Jamdani sarees and also wrote poetry, while his mother managed the household. Biren attended school up to class six at Shibnath High School in Tangail. From childhood he showed an early interest in spiritual practices and learned hymns from a local priest.
When he was about eight years old, Biren began learning to weave cotton yarn on a pick-loom. In 1962, communal unrest prompted the family to move across the border into West Bengal. They reached Alipurduar and eventually settled in Phulia, where conditions were difficult and Biren left formal schooling. He began working in a local sari factory at age 13, earning a small daily wage and helping to support his family.
Career
Biren’s working life developed from factory labor to entrepreneurial craft. After years as a weaver, in 1970 he borrowed a loan to start his own business, mortgaging a relative’s house to raise capital. He and his elder brother Dhiren bought saris from local vendors and sold them in Kolkata, carrying heavy bundles door to door and building a clientele through hard work and low prices. Their efforts grew: by 1978 they were generating significant profits, and in 1981 they purchased a shop in South Kolkata. The brothers eventually opened a retail outlet under the name Dhiren and Biren Basak and Company, and by 1986 they achieved a turnover of about one crore rupees.
Biren later moved back to Phulia in 1987 and established a wholesale sari business from his home under the name Biren Basak and Company. He began designing and producing his own saris with a small team of employees. Over time his operations expanded: reports indicate that as many as 800 weavers worked with him, and he developed distribution links with sari dealers across India.
Biren gained recognition for creative woven designs that drew on traditional sources. In 1995 he drew inspiration from Ramayan (Krittibasi) to create a Dakai sari, blending muslin kora warp with tussar silk weft; that project took about two and a half years and earned him inclusion in the Limca Book of Records. He continued to innovate with handloom techniques and motifs, producing a Jamdani sari depicting different moods of Lord Ganesha using tussar and muga silk threads, completed in just over a year, and later recorded in the India Book of Records.
Awards and recognition have followed his craft. He received a Sant Kabir Award from the Union Ministry of Textiles in 2013 and was honored with the Padma Shri in 2021 for his artistic contributions to weaving. Other honors include the Shanta Prasad Award for Excellence in Textile Crafts (2019), national awards for design and market development, and a certificate of merit for Jamdani craft development.
One of Biren’s most widely publicized achievements came in 2018 when he produced a saree measuring 3,726.43 meters, an effort that secured a Guinness World Record. Over the years many well-known Indian cultural figures and public personalities have chosen his creations, a testament to his reputation in textile circles.
Public profile
Biren Kumar Basak is identified with the handloom tradition and retains a public image as a craftsman who values rural life and the heritage of weaving. He has spoken publicly about raising his son to understand the value of hard work before joining the family business. Known for his salt-and-pepper hair and black eyes, he lives in Phulia and maintains ties with a broad network of weavers and sari dealers across India.
Latest updates
In April 2026 Biren’s Jamdani sari attracted international attention when it was worn by Nita Ambani at the TIME 100 Summit in New York; the sari was reported to be valued at Rs 11 lakhs. Earlier milestones cited include the Limca and India Book of Records entries, the 2018 Guinness World Record, and a reported business turnover in 2016–2017 of approximately Rs 50 crores.
Personal life
Biren is married to Bani Basak; the couple wed in 1977. They have one son, Abhinaba. Biren’s hometown connections run between his birthplace in Tangail and his long residence in Nadia, West Bengal. He follows Hindu religious traditions and is a non-vegetarian by diet.
Throughout his life Biren Kumar Basak has moved from child weaver to nationally recognized artisan, building a business rooted in handloom technique and a commitment to traditional textile crafts.
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Recent Work
A Guinness World Record–listed saree measuring 3,726.43 meters produced in 2018.
2018A Jamdani sari reported to be valued at Rs 11 lakhs, worn by Nita Ambani at the TIME 100 Summit in New York.
2026Career Highlights
- Padma Shri (2021)
- Sant Kabir Award by the Union Ministry of Textiles (2013)
- Guinness World Record for a 3,726.43 m saree (2018)
- Limca Book of Records and India Book of Records entries
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Biren Kumar Basak born?
Biren Kumar Basak was born on 16 May 1951.
What is Biren Kumar Basak known for?
Biren Kumar Basak is known for handloom Weaver.
What is Biren Kumar Basak’s marital status?
Biren Kumar Basak's marital status is listed as Married.
Who is Biren Kumar Basak married to?
Biren Kumar Basak is publicly listed as married to Bani Basak.

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