Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay was responsible for the revival of traditional handlooms and handicrafts in post-Independence India.
Recognized as the doyen of Indian arts and crafts Kamaladevi was the driving force behind several initiatives such as the Crafts Council of India and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium. Born in 1903, Kamaladevi was married off at a very young age. She became involved in India’s freedom movement and worked alongside several prominent freedom fighters for India’s independence.
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay also founded the Indian Co-operative Union. She set up a cooperative society initially for rehabilitation of cross border refugees after Partition. Under her leadership, the cooperative flourished and multiplied thus becoming a phenomenal success.
Kamaladevi could not bear the slow death of the Indian arts and crafts industry and strived for a renaissance. As Chairperson of the Handloom Board, she travelled far and wide scouting for talented artisans and worked towards their economic upliftment. Further she launched the Indian National Theatre.
Kamaladevi has won several illustrious awards such as the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, the World Crafts Council Award and the Padma Vibhushan.
Why we find Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay inspiring:
– For her remarkable vision in sustaining India’s rich cultural heritage
– For her “out-of-the-box” thinking which led her to launch several previously unheard of initiatives successfully
– For being a champion of women’s rights and for fighting against archaic laws
– For realizing that if a country is to truly flourish, growth must be evident from the grassroots level
*Photo credit: wikipedia
Women's Web is a vibrant community for Indian women, an authentic space for us to be ourselves and talk about all things that matter to us. Follow us via the read more...
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
Please enter your email address