Part 1: Kutch, the no man’s land
When you step into the Rann, the first thing that strikes you is the expanse. The white desert that extends in each direction as far as the eye can see. Mirages, white sand, crystal salt and a little...
View ArticlePart 2: Kutch, land of colours
As we woke up refreshed on day 2, we were all excited to hit the road. After all, we had crafts waiting for us at the other end. Our first stop was at Nirona, the village famous for its abundance of...
View ArticlePart 3: Kutch, history of their geography
Day 3 started off with another long journey. With all the craft work done, it was time to check out other sights. We traveled through huge stretches of barren landscape and crossed the Tropic of Cancer...
View ArticleTravel with An Indian Summer
Found a wonderful tour on one my favourite blogs- An Indian Summer. In her words, “A journey of discovery, adventure and luxury, to Satpura National Park and Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh....
View ArticleTurmeric Hands
Over the course of three years, we’ve partnered with some very interesting people. Though I plan to do justice to that list over a period of time, I am starting with someone like me, someone I’ve never...
View ArticleCraft in public spaces
I’ve always hated hospitals and airports. I find them vast and cold, very very cold. I guess it is to do with all the swanky steel and the blinding white light. It is not a cozy place to be in. And I...
View ArticleDesign journeys from India to Mexico
When I first met Jimena at the DICRC office, my first thoughts were not very positive. In my opinion, the very tall and very thin Jimena (from Mexico city, Mexico) would not last a week in India,...
View ArticleSongs from the mountain looms
As winters turn into summers, I still long to snuggle under the covers and wake up to a blast of cold morning air from the window. And with a recent movie that shows beautiful stretches of snow, I am...
View ArticleHigh up on the wall
It is a mixed feeling as you walk past one of your own installations every morning. Sometimes it is a feeling of elation seeing a piece of art that will remain forever. But most times, it is panic at...
View ArticleThe good middleman
Every time I listen to a student presentation (or even tea-time discussion) on crafts, I hear about this obnoxious middleman. The guy who is in between the artisan and the final customer, the one who...
View Article6 things to do in Jaipur
Summer isn’t the best time to go to Jaipur, or so I thought. A work trip took me there last month and I had an extra day to myself. While a part of me just wanted to huddle inside the hotel, binge...
View ArticleA shell studded peacock
I really wouldn’t say that I work very hard. The cliché that if you love what you do, it doesn’t seem like work, is true. Very true. I’ve skipped lunches without feeling even a bit hungry and woke up...
View ArticleThe real feminist
Shanti Devi is a single mother of three children. Her husband was bed ridden since the time their kids were barely in school. She educated her children and got them (and now her grand-daughter whose...
View ArticleSummer school-Exploring crafts in Himachal Pradesh
June 2016 was one of the most hectic months ever. Traveling almost every day on non-existent roads, putting our feet up when travel got too much, a group of 19 students, my co-faculty Dr.Mukesh Patel...
View ArticleOld is gold
For one of our recent projects, we invited a three Madhubani artisans from Bihar. Their train was late and since the ladies had never been to Ahmedabad, I went to fetch them from the railway station. I...
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Forest in your backyard
Imagine growing up with a forest in your backyard, waking up to birds chirping, foraging for food amidst nature’s abundance, side-stepping snakes during monsoons, protecting your fields from wild...
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When the Goddess comes calling
What do you do when you cannot reach the one you revere? What happens when the powerful stop you from practicing your beliefs? What will you do when you do not have the resources to challenge them?...
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Suresh Kumar Kushram
Craft: Gond painting, Madhya Pradesh Suresh is a young talented Gond artisan from Patangarh village, Dindori district. Soft-spoken and shy, at first glance, it is impossible to believe that this...
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Kalabai Shyam
Craft: Gond painting, Madhya Pradesh The one thing that always strikes you about most uber successful people is their humility. Kalabai Shyam, a National Award is a few notches higher. Born in...
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Laltu Chitrakar
Craft: Pattachitra painting, West Bengal Laltu’s 100-watt smile is something that can brighten even the bleakest of days. He lives in Midnapore, in a village that is only 100 kms away from Kolkata but...
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