&w=3840&q=100)
FDCI launches Shrijan- The birth of a craft- A visual representation of the nation's ancient crafts
The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) with Craftroots has put together a visual representation of crafts currently on display at the Innovation Gallery, housed within Textile Gallery II: Tradition and Innovation, at the National Crafts Museum & Hastakala Academy, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Titled Shrijan – The Birth of a Craft, the exhibition explores the spirit of India's ancient craft traditions through a contemporary lens. Craftroots—an initiative founded by Smt. Anar Patel and her board—the showcase brings together textile, fashion, craft, and art in a deeply evocative narrative. An artisans' collective based in Ahmedabad, that emerged from a skill development programme for women from underprivileged communities, aiming to empower them socio-economically while celebrating India's rich craft heritage.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Each installation within Shrijan metaphorically narrates the journey of craftsmanship—expressing creation, growth, emotion, and existence. This exhibition has been curated by Sunil Sethi.
This showcase sets the tone for the gallery's vision of celebrating innovation rooted in tradition by spotlighting extraordinary works from designers, artisans, and textile artists across India.
'At the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, our objective is to consistently promote crafts and support artisans across the country. Each region offers its own distinct perspective and tradition, and through ongoing exhibitions at the National Crafts Museum & Hastakala Academy, we aim to provide a platform for these voices. This particular showcase, led by Craftroots and curated by Sunil Sethi of the Fashion Design Council of India, brings together elements of fashion, craft, art, and culture. It serves as a visual expression of Indian craftsmanship, and we remain committed to highlighting the diversity and skills found in communities across the country,' said Ms Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
'The art installations have been painstakingly created to represent how the craft was born, blossomed, experienced the beauty of emotions, and metamorphosed into an avatar of its own story. Every art piece of Shrijan symbolises the idea of life that resonates with the mother's emotions and happiness, When a child is born. The concept fuels the marks of life defining the force of cosmic energy. All the art installations narrate a tale of modest vision in today's era. As seen, Shrijan- The Birth of a Craft is a captivating blend of connection and harmony, symbolizing a collective of emotional expressions in various forms,' said Smt. Anar Patel, founder of Craftroots, Ahmedabad.
'Together, the rich cultural significance of India is embedded in its ancient relics, each depicting stories of heritage and craftsmanship. Gujarat, a state brimming with vibrancy and liveliness, pays homage to classic hand embroideries, techniques, and crafts that embody modesty. These art installations visually narrate the intricate labour and love involved in the creation of each piece, reflecting a metamorphic exquisiteness in contemporary form,' said Sunil Sethi, Chairman of FDCI.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Every art piece in Shrijan embodies the inception of life, symbolising the journey of Indian crafts from conception to creation. The Birth of a Craft is a seductive tapestry of integration and unity, serving as a metaphor for an entourage of emotional expressions in every form.
About Craftsroot:
Craftsroot is a heartfelt tribute to India's timeless craft traditions, created by Smt. Anar Patel. As a fair trade initiative by Gramshree, Craftroots empowers traditional artisans by providing a global platform to showcase their work and preserve age-old art forms.
Based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Craftroots has grown into a nationwide movement, supporting over 35,000 artisans across 87 crafts and 22 states, in collaboration with 19 NGOs. The initiative is dedicated to uplifting underprivileged men and women artisans, helping them build sustainable livelihoods with dignity and pride.
Guided by the values of Revival, Sustenance, and Sharing, Craftsroot works to keep 5,000 years of artisanal brilliance alive—creating a bridge between rural craftsmanship and modern markets, while fostering conscious, ethical consumption.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
About FDCI:
The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) is the country's premier not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the business of fashion and ensuring its sustainable growth. As a collective of over 400 leading designers, accessory creators, educational institutions, and industry professionals, FDCI serves as the backbone of India's fashion ecosystem.
The council curates a robust calendar of events, including the bi-annual Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI, held in New Delhi and Mumbai, India Men's Weekend and India Couture Week, the nation's most prestigious showcase of haute couture. Beyond these flagship events, FDCI collaborates with the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, as well as international organizations, to foster opportunities for Indian designers on a global scale.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Is this how you speak to your seniors?' Boss snaps at worker in viral WhatsApp chat
A recent WhatsApp exchange between a manager and an employee has attracted widespread attention online for all the wrong reasons. Shared on the Indian Workplace subreddit, the viral post included screenshots of a heated interaction between a Reddit user's friend and their manager. The manager's insistence on being addressed as "Sir" triggered strong criticism, with many labeling it an example of India's outdated and toxic hierarchical culture. The conversation began when the employee informed the manager about feeling unwell and mentioned taking a leave of absence. Instead of acknowledging the situation empathetically, the manager lashed out. He was displeased with the employee's tone and particularly upset that he wasn't referred to with the title "Sir." He reprimanded the employee for using casual language, instructing them to use what he called "good words" in professional exchanges. Phrases like 'let me know' were dismissed as too informal, and the manager insisted on more authoritative wording like 'inform.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MCA Digital Marketing Healthcare CXO PGDM Product Management Artificial Intelligence Leadership Data Science others Public Policy Degree Project Management Others MBA Technology Finance Management Data Science Data Analytics Design Thinking Cybersecurity Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Programming Proficiency Data Handling & Analysis Cybersecurity Awareness & Skills Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Master of Computer Applications Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details 'Is this the way you speak to your seniors?' demanded the manager. Agencies The manager's tone throughout came across as condescending and controlling, further aggravating users who viewed the screenshots. Online Users Fire Back The Reddit community wasted no time in tearing apart the manager's obsession with formality. Many users shared their own experiences, stating that modern workplaces have largely moved beyond such rigid power dynamics. One commenter said their own senior, several levels above them in hierarchy, often addresses subordinates with the same level of casual respect—proving that insisting on "Sir" is outdated and almost sarcastic in tone today. Another person pointed out how, a decade ago, their first boss had made it clear that addressing coworkers by name was the norm and using 'sir' was discouraged. Yet, in many Indian companies today, the urge to be worshipped by juniors persists. Several users slammed this as a reflection of fragile egos, deeply rooted in traditional beliefs about respecting authority figures without question. Commenters praised the employee for standing firm and refusing to grovel. Some even advised them to avoid using WhatsApp for professional updates, suggesting email, Teams, or Slack as better, more official alternatives. If the manager's behavior escalates further, a few users suggested formally reporting it as harassment. Still, the conversation wasn't completely one-sided. A minority of users criticized the employee's casual tone, saying phrases like 'I informed you, na' lacked professionalism. According to them, even in unjust situations, it's essential to maintain proper workplace etiquette. In summary, the incident has sparked a larger conversation about workplace respect , authority, and evolving professional standards in Indian office culture.
The Wire
40 minutes ago
- The Wire
End of an Era: MiG-21's 62-Year Service Owes Less to Soviet Engineering, More to 'Desi Jugaad'
MiG-21's farewell won't just signal the retirement of a Cold War relic, but the departure of a fighter that, over decades, became thoroughly Indian in spirit. New Delhi: Few combat aircraft globally can match a service life as prolonged – and improbable – as the MiG-21's 62 years in the Indian Air Force (IAF), whose final two squadrons of around 30-odd platforms are being retired at a formal ceremony in Chandigarh on September 19. This extraordinary longevity was underpinned almost entirely by jugaad, the Indian military's inimitable culture of improvisation, ingenuity, and engineering fixes that kept these single-engine fighters flying far beyond expectations and well outside their original flight envelope and mission parameters. Through a mix of technical improvisation and squadron-level ingenuity that included integration of improved radars, indigenously developed and off-the-shelf avionics and modern missile systems, the IAF's numerous MiG-21 (NATO designation: 'Fishbed') variants evolved operationally far beyond their original Soviet design. Few supersonic jets of any era have operated such a broad mission spectrum And, over time, entire IAF base-level ecosystems grew around supporting these fighters, doing more with less to transform the MiG-21s into multi-role workhorses capable of flying reconnaissance, ground-attack, interception, precision-strike missions and air policing roles, all acknowledged admiringly by fighter pilots from around the world. Few supersonic jets of any era, let alone those from the 1960s, have operated such a broad mission spectrum, with MiG-21 fighters serving effectively in the 1965, 1971, and 1999 wars with Pakistan, in the Balakot strikes of 2019, and more recently in Operation Sindoor. Beginning with the first Mikoyan-Gurevich-designed MiG-21F-13/Type 74 in 1963, some 870 variants of the fighter entered IAF service thereafter, the majority licence-produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore. MiG-21 inductions continued until the mid-1980s, with this fighter type eventually comprising nearly 60% of the IAF's combat fleet till the 1990s. The MiG-21s performance envelope was notable for its era: a top speed of Mach 2.1, operational ceiling of over 50,000 feet, and a rapid climb rate. But its range and payload were modest, and its early variants had rudimentary avionics, limited visibility, and posed challenging handling at low speeds. Veterans said the fighter was primarily a 'pilot's aircraft' – unforgiving of error and with minimal tolerance for laxity. Over the decades, some 450 MiG-21s had crashed, killing between 170 and 200 pilots – as well as several civilians on the ground – according to official statistics, earning the fighter ignominious labels in the Indian media such as 'flying coffins' and 'widow makers'. Multiple investigations had revealed that, apart from pilot error, many of these crashes had stemmed largely from ageing airframes, engine failures, and the relentless demands placed on a platform long past its technological prime. But eventually it was compulsion, not choice, that kept the IAF flying MiG-21s despite mounting mishaps – mainly to sustain squadron numbers. Although proposals to phase them out began surfacing as early as 2019, persistent delays in developing indigenous fighters and slow procurement of replacements left the IAF with little option but to continue with MiG-21s to fill critical operational gaps by extended their total technical life (TTL) and take on roles far beyond their original design intent. Chronic delay in indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme One key reason behind the MiG-21's extended service was the chronic delay in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, launched in 1983 specifically to replace it. As a stopgap, the IAF upgraded 125 MiG-21 'Bis' fighters to 'Bison' standard in the late 1990s, incorporating a mix of Indian, Russian, French, and Israeli radar, avionics and assorted other related systems onto the fighter. These upgraded MiG-21 Bisons are the ones finally being retired in September, and their exit will reduce the IAF's fighter fleet to just 29 squadrons, well below the sanctioned strength of 42.5, underscoring the mounting strain on its operational efficiency. And though the fighters' original Tumansky R-25 engines were not replaced, they were modified with enhanced accessory drives and ancillary systems to support the heavier, electronics-laden platform. Its avionics too saw a significant boost with the integration of the lightweight Russian 'Super Kopyo' multi-mode radar and the Totem 221G ring-laser gyro inertial navigation system from France's Sextant Avionique. These were linked to a locally developed navigation and attack computer, with weapon delivery cues displayed to the pilot via a modern Head-Up Display (HUD). The upgrade also included EWS-21 radar warning receivers from Thales, Israeli countermeasure dispensers, onboard video recording systems, and indigenous electronic countermeasures (ECM). The MiG-21 Bison was also capable of deploying a much wider range of ordnance, including Russian R-73 and R-77 air-to-air missiles with ranges of 40 to 100 km, Kh-31 medium-range air-to-surface missiles, and the GSh-23 twin-barrel 23mm cannon. Meanwhile, Wing Cdr Amit Giri, a veteran MIG-21 pilot, declared that though designed as a short-range interceptor, the IAF had 'upped the game by using the MiG-21 in almost every role imaginable'. Writing in the Financial Express in late 2021, he stated that these missions had included bombing, interception, reconnaissance, providing escort to bombers over enemy territory and also training rookie pilots. He said MiG-21s had even comprised part of large force engagements (LFEs), executed to deceive the enemy and conceal the real intent regarding intended targets, thereby forcing the opposing side to deploy a large defending package to its operational disadvantage. IAF's skills in operationalising technical and operational 'jugaad' 'Let alone Western air forces, even the Russians could never have imagined the role of a MiG-21 in LFE,' Wing Cdr Giri said in a silent tribute to the IAF's skills in operationalising technical and operational 'jugaad' and optimising its war-fighting skills. However, he conceded that the IAF's continued reliance on the MiG-21 was driven more by necessity than by tactical preference. With a 'humongous amount of sky to protect,' a trickle of fighter acquisitions from abroad, and delays in indigenous development, the IAF had little choice but to shape its strategy and tactics around platforms like the MiG-21. In short, the Soviet fighter remained an analogue survivor in a digital age, but one that had stayed too long. And, as the MiG-21 takes its final bow in Chandigarh in a few weeks, its farewell won't just signal the retirement of a Cold War relic, but the departure of a fighter that, over decades, became thoroughly Indian in spirit. Its 62-year service owes less to Soviet engineering and more to the power of desi jugaad – the Indian military's unsung force multiplier. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Celebrating family ties: The joy and bond of national cousins day
National Cousins Day—celebrated every year on July 24—is a heartfelt reminder of the special relationship shared between cousins. While often overlooked in the hustle of daily life, cousins play a unique and irreplaceable role in our personal histories. They are our first best friends, childhood partners in mischief, secret-keepers, and, in many cases, our lifelong confidants. Unlike siblings, the bond with cousins is often a perfect balance of closeness and distance. There's usually less rivalry and more room for shared laughter and emotional support. Whether it's festive family gatherings, summer vacations, or long video calls during exam stress, cousins create memories that last a lifetime. In many Indian families, the cousin dynamic is especially significant. With close-knit joint family structures still prominent in many regions, cousins are often raised together, creating relationships that feel like an extension of the immediate family. From Raksha Bandhan celebrations to Diwali dance-offs and wedding rituals, cousins are often at the heart of these shared traditions. National Cousins Day is more than just a date on the calendar—it's a time to reflect on these deep-rooted bonds. It's a chance to reconnect with cousins who may now be in different cities or countries. In an age dominated by fast-paced lives and digital communication, this day encourages us to pause and celebrate those who shaped our childhood and continue to support us through adulthood. So how can one celebrate National Cousins Day meaningfully? A simple phone call or heartfelt message can brighten someone's day. Creating a photo collage of shared memories or hosting a virtual game night can revive cherished moments. Even better, plan a small get-together if possible, to laugh over old stories and create new ones. Cousins are often the bridge between generations, linking family legacies with present connections. They remind us of where we come from, who we've grown with, and how our shared roots continue to bind us even as we forge individual paths.
