Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 4: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), IIT Jammu, successfully hosted a one-day workshop titled “From Tradition to Enterprise: Women Entrepreneurs Weaving Heritage” today.
The workshop was conceived as a vibrant platform to bring together women artisans, local art communities and academic participants in a dialogue centered on Swadeshi values, cultural preservation and women-led entrepreneurship.
The event witnessed the presence of Ritu Singh, Founding Chairperson of FICCI FLO Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh. Ankita Bansal, also joined the session, contributing to the vibrant discussion on craft, women, and enterprise.
The workshop featured engaging sessions and demonstrations by four talented women artisans from the Jammu region. While Deepali Handa, founder of The Crafts of India showcased her curated revival of handmade textiles, including the regal Shahi Dogri collection, Anita Sharma and Usha Gupta introduced participants to the intricacies of Pushkari embroidery, highlighting its aesthetic and historical value.
Rajni Devi presented Binna Chabri, a traditional wheat-straw craft that blends rural functionality with artistry whereas Priya Gupta captivated the audience with her innovative work of art created from recycled and sustainable materials.
The event was coordinated by Dr Quleen Kaur Bijral, HSS faculty, with support from the faculty and student team of the HSS Department. Dr Amitash Ojha, Head of the Department, HSS, opened the event by emphasizing the importance of engaging academia with community-based knowledge systems and traditional practices.
Dr Sukanya Sharma, provided a thematic essence of the workshop while Nivedita and Dipannita, HSS English Language Instructors and Sujal Kumar, a BTech student, moderated the workshop sessions.
The event was attended by faculty members including Prof Sham Narayan Lal, Prof Bijoy, Prof Meenakshi, Dr Garima, Dr Kishore and Dr Hardev of HSS department.
The event concluded with an open exhibition organized by Deepali Handa and her team which showcased crafts, providing participants with the opportunity to engage directly with the artisans, learn their stories, and explore the scope of cultural entrepreneurship.
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