To empower India’s indigenous craftsmen and promote their traditional arts and craftsmanship, the Union culture ministry has set up the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design (ABCD).
Pic: Social Media
It was formally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 8 during the opening of the India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale. Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design has been created under Project Aatman with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) as its nodal agency.
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Housed in a two-storey barrack ‘L1’ built in the 1860s inside the 17th century Red Fort complex, the project has transformed the British-era military garrison into an aesthetic cultural space. Amongst many, West Bengal native Gaurav Malakar is an eighth-generation traditional artisan who is carrying forward the legacy of ‘sholapith’.
Pic: Social Media
The art form is an age-old delicate craftsmanship that was handed down by his forefathers that needs patience as well as finesse. Artistic handcrafted objects fashioned out of stems of ‘shola’ plant have been traditionally used in ritual adornment during Durga Puja, weddings and auspicious occasions.
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Apart from Sholapith, other tradional craftsmanship that are being showcased are Jamakkalam carpet weaving and Pulicat Palm Leaf work of Tamil Nadu, traditional board games such as Chaturanga, Jaipur rugs, black pottery of Manipur, Tangaliya weaving of Gujarat, Himalayan Indigo dyeing of Uttarakhand, papier-mache of Kashmir and glass work of Firzobad.
The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design is a catalyst for advancing craft development through innovative design strategies aligned with current trends. Its approach involves fostering collaborations among designers, artisans, and domain experts to address both business and societal challenges.
