Mahatma Gandhi Vastrodyama

Name: Mahatma Gandhi Vastrodyama
Start: 2024-08-03T18:00:00+05:30
End: 2024-08-03T20:00:00+05:30
Location: Bangalore International Centre

Weaving Insights on Handloom Day

Speakers

Prasanna

Handloom Activist & Theatre Director

Prasad Bidapa

International Fashion Choreographer & Stylist

Pavithra Muddaya

Designer & Handloom Revivalist

N R VishuKumar

Former Bureaucrat & Social Activist

Date & Time

Saturday Sat, 3 Aug 2024

Location

Bangalore International Centre

7, 4th Main Road, Domlur II Stage
Bangalore, Karnataka 560071 India

Contact

[email protected]

Recognising the potential of the handloom sector to provide sustainable employment and meet the growing demand for handloom fabric, the Government of Karnataka introduced ‘Mahatma Gandhi Vastrodyama’, a liaison between weaver co-operatives, producers, and the market, in last year’s budget. However, this project has not progressed beyond a few meetings and the initial proposal stage. Meanwhile, the past year has seen the condition of handloom weavers decline further, reaching a state of emergency. Without proper access to markets and design interventions, they are unable to realise the true value of their traditional skills.

As we face increasing natural disasters, periods of flood and drought, and the looming climate catastrophe, ecologically sustainable rural industries such as handlooms and khadi can provide sustainable employment opportunities without harming nature. On Handloom Day, we hope to rekindle this discussion and draw attention to this critical issue.

Presented by:

Speakers

Prasanna

Handloom Activist & Theatre Director

Prasanna is a renowned theatre director who has trained some of the best actors in the country. He is the founder of Charaka women’s cooperative society and Desi Trust, which have been working towards ecologically sustainable rural livelihoods for past three decades in Karnataka. He is also the founder of Gram Seva Sangh, a youth organisation that aims to bridge the gap between rural and urban through constructive programmes. He has tirelessly worked for the betterment of Handmade Sector in the State by undertaking several significant Satyagrahas like the GST satyagraha, the Badanavalu Satyagraha and the Kaimagga Satyagraha.

Prasad Bidapa

International Fashion Choreographer & Stylist

Prasad Bidapa is the pioneer in the Indian fashion industry for the last four decades. He is the iconic fashion guru of India. An alumni of NID Ahmedabad, he is the creator of high-profile events like India Men’s Fashion Week, Colombo International Fashion Week, Kingfisher Fashion Awards, and Mega Model Hunt. A textile expert himself, he has presented the Rajasthan Heritage Week since 2015. This is a project he developed for the Khadi Board for the Government of Rajasthan. It is considered one of the most successful khadi and handloom revival projects in the country.

Pavithra Muddaya

Designer & Handloom Revivalist

Pavithra Muddaya has worked in preserving handloom heritage, working with design revival of sarees since the age of 16 with her mother Mrs. Chimy Nanjappa. Inspired by stalwarts like Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya and Pupul Jaykar and her own family legacy, she has worked for the past 50 years with weavers from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and several states across India. Through her Organisation Vimor, she has recreated several unique designs and weaving techniques found in our country. Vimor also setup a museum of living textiles through which they educate students and interested people about the importance of handlooms.

N R VishuKumar

Former Bureaucrat & Social Activist

Vishukumar has served in the Government of Karnataka for three decades in various capacities. He was Director, Department of Kannada & Culture and later Director of Information & Public Relations. A Gandhian by thoughts and deeds, he has worked extensively for promotion of Gandhian Ideals. He is presently serving as the Working President of Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, overseeing several programmes and projects.