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Here Is How USHA Silai Schools Are Preserving Indigenous Art And Craft

Here Is How USHA Silai Schools Are Preserving Indigenous Art And Craft

The USHA Silai School program is playing a critical role in restoring and promoting traditional art and crafts. The Silai heroes have been using their skill and creativity to preserve indigenous art and also to increase their earnings through the fusion of traditional art with modern skills. Here is how three Silai Heroes from Gujarat, Bihar and Manipur are doing their bit in not only preserving indigenous art but also earn a livelihood and helping other women also in becoming financially independent.

Hasuben Mohanbhai Rabari from Gujarat learnt traditional embroidery from her mother. She learnt stitching from USHA Silai School. Now she is combining both the skills to create finished products and earn about Rs. 10,000 per month on an average.

Hasuben comes from the Rabari community which is still far from access to education and is continuously migrating. Thus, Hasuben also could not get an education.

Hasuben is working towards making this unique style called Rabari Embroidery stand out in the crowd.

Hasuben also teaches young girls of her village to do the same and make Rabari Embroidery that symbolises mythology, rituals, culture and also life of Rabaris, famous the across the world.

After her family abandoned her, Kusum Devi of Hasanpur, Bihar started working with Bhojpur Mahila Kala Kendra (BMKK). BMKK with the help of the USHA Silai school, gave Kusum Devi a purpose.

Kusum Devi, who is a master of a master of an ancient form of embroidery called Sujani, now has her own Silai school.

Sujani is an ancient form of embroidery from Bihar. Quilts are made by stitching together colorful patches of old clothes and then Sujani embroidery was done with colorful threads to create motifs and designs.

For smaller pieces, Kusum Devi is able earn approximately Rs. 4,000 and the bigger pieces created by her are sold for over Rs.5,000.

The USHA Silai School program, with the help of local NGO called People's Development Society (PDS), has taken charge to revive the indigenous art and craft of the state by developing skills of women and girls and helping them connect with markets.

Chandam Sunita Devi, artisan and USHA Silai Hero from Manipur, started her own Silai School in 2016 with an aim to take forward the traditional designing and production techniques. She makes beddings and mosquito nets.

During wedding season, she is able to earn over Rs. 60,000 per month by making beddings for the newly wed couples.

Chandam Sunita Devi has shown that one does not need a degree in designing to become a successful fashion entrepreneur.