Policy Craft: What Looms Ahead?

Mr Michael P Pinto commenced his working career as a management trainee with Hindustan Lever in 1966. On his selection into the Indian Administrative Service (I.A.S) he joined the Government of India and served till his retirement.

He has had an his illustrious career across various fields  in governance and administration. The assignments he has helmed in Handloom and Handicrafts sector were : Chairman of Handloom and Handicraft Export Corporation (HHEC), Chairman of Central Cottage Industries Corporation (CCIC), Director – Handlooms for State of Maharashtra, Additional Commissioner Handlooms, Goverment of India.

The blend of experience in the private sector where he started his career as well as the several public enterprises both at the state and centre in which he served has given him unique insight into private public partnerships and how they can be harnessed to increase welfare and improve economic conditions especially in developing countries.

He was till 2009, the Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities in the rank and status of Union Minister of State. In addition to these services Mr Pinto has been appointed as an independent director on boards of several companies.

Laila Tyabji is a designer, writer, and founder member/Chairperson of DASTKAR, a Society for Crafts & Craftspeople, She has been working in the craft and development sector all over India for over 35 years and has received the Padma Shri for her work in 2012. In 2003, Laila was the recipient of the AID TO ARTISANS Preservation of Craft Award in New York – the 2nd-ever recipient and first Asian.
Laila’s work with artisans over the last four decades includes the chikan workers of SEWA Lucknow, Kasuti and Kantha embroiderers in Karnataka and Bengal, Madhubani painters and sujni quilters in Bihar, regurs in Rajasthan, and Banjara and Rabari mirrorwork craftswomen in Kutch and Maharashtra, pastoral communities displaced by the Tiger Reserve in Ranthambhore, and women victims of terrorist insurgency in Kashmir.

Laila speaks and writes regularly on craft, design and social issues at both national and international forums. Her book THREADS & VOICES – Behind the Indian Textile Tradition was published by Marg in 2007. Laila has served as member on National Committees and Advisory Boards for handicrafts, the small industry sector, khadi, culture, design and is actively involved, as a consultant and mentor, in Student Craft Design and Documentation Projects at NIFT and NID.

Ashoke Chatterjee’s distinguished career as a public servant and professional communicator has sat comfortably with his widely recognised voluntary philanthropic contributions.

Ashoke attended Woodstock School, following which he earned his Economics degree at St. Stephens College, New Delhi. He then studied for his Master of Business Administration at Miami University in Ohio, USA. Professional career highlights include positions with the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, where he worked as a communications specialist, the Indian Tourism Development Corporation, and the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad, where he was Executive Director. Through these teaching and consultancy activities in Ahmedabad, he was able to impact the management of design in industry and development communication.

Ashoke’s current contributions feature the Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (Geneva), the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH), the Gujarat Ecology Commission, the Government of Rajasthan Department of Health, and the National Drinking Water Mission (Government of India).

Ashoke has used his development communications experience in consultancies and training on behalf of the Gujarat AIDS Awareness & Prevention Unit (GAP), National AIDS Control Organisation (Government of India), World Water Council (Marseilles) and UNICEF (India and New York). For many years, he served as honorary President of the Crafts Council of India. Recently he joined the Board of Directors of Aid to Artisans, a US-based non-profit organisation that offers assistance to artisans worldwide.

Ashoke’s expertise in water management projects and environmental issues has seen him travel widely in India and overseas. An active member of WOSA India for a number of years, he has served on the Winterline Foundation and has been a member of the Woodstock Board of Directors. Ashoke’s commitment to others, voluntary service and life-long achievements are qualities that Woodstock both nurtures and honours.

Archana Shah has been working in the handloom sector for almost 40 years, closely collaborating with artisan families to create textiles for urban markets.

She started a clothing company BANDHEJ soon after she graduated from the National Institute of Design (NID) in 1980. The company was started with a vision to uphold, preserve and sustain the precious handcrafted textile skills and inherent knowledge of indigenous artisans through collaborative design interventions. Over the years, Bandhej has created a distinct idiom in its design, offering a range of handcrafted, eco-friendly and sustainable fashion clothing that has an understated elegance.

She published her first book – SHIFTING SANDS, Kutch: Textiles, Traditions, Transformation in 2013. The book is a personal journey of discovery and about her long association with the land, people and their craft. She is presently working on a book about the value of handcrafted textiles in the present context. She believes, traditional wisdom has a lot to offer.

Sadhana is a research-led writer and curator in the arts & culture area.

She has written on arts, crafts, travel, socio-economics, literature, film festivals & music for leading newspapers and journals such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, Deccan Chronicle, Tehelka, Housecalls, Shruti etc.,.

As a curator of music & arts Intelligence segments at conferences, Sadhana has worked with artists and artisans across various genres from classical performers and craftspeople to weave narrative backed lecture demonstrations that break down fundamental elements of arts.

Continuing her volunteering at SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth), since her days at Miranda House and Delhi School of Social Work she has participated in a number of programs that have taken Gurus and Masters in the Arts and Crafts to intersect with students in schools and colleges.

As a passionate believer in the concept that art knows no hierarchies, Sadhana Rao, a Music & Arts education  entrepreneur, co-Founded Art Links Learning, which over seven years had developed its own pedagogy and delivery methodology leveraging the Alchemy of teachers and technology.

A Masters in Social Work from Delhi University she honed her research, consulting and execution skills at the Administrative Staff College of India.

Living in Bangalore she continues to be a student of the Arts.