Threads of Change: Arunachal Pradesh Hosts NIFT-Led Revival to Empower Indigenous Artisans
In the cradle of Lower Subansiri, Ziro unfolded a magical tapestry of tradition, talent, and transformation as over 70 artisans gathered for a workshop. The Department of Industries, in partnership with NIFT Kolkata, orchestrated a one-day cultural uprising under the Ministry of Textiles’ Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS). Artisans from across the district arrived bearing the weight of generations, and the spark to begin anew. This marked the sixth such event in Arunachal Pradesh, following trailblazing sessions in Namsai, Tezu, and Miao, which have collectively empowered more than 300 artisans, reclaiming identity through art. Leadership that Listens to CraftThe workshop opened with powerful voices and even stronger visions. Deputy Commissioner Vivek H.P., joined by Zilla Parishad Member Nani Jailang, addressed the crowd with one clear message, “your work deserves the world”. With heartfelt urgency, he painted a picture of Arunachal’s untapped potential, urging artisans to step into the national spotlight just as other Northeastern states have done. From Shillong’s bustling markets to digital storefronts across India, there’s a growing hunger for authenticity, and Arunachal has it in abundance. “Your craft is not just skill, it’s legacy,” Vivek declared, encouraging creators to blend innovation with tradition and use this workshop as a launchpad to bigger dreams. When Tradition Dances with Design: The NIFT EffectThe real alchemy began when the experts from NIFT Kolkata stepped in. Professors Jayati Mukherjee, Sanjib Kumar Das, Anamika Debnath, and Anwesha Mukherjee guided participants through the poetic intersection of heritage and modernity. With the theme “Creating Avenues to a New Identity”, they helped artisans reimagine Apatani motifs through the lens of fashion and market relevance. The sessions weren’t lectures, they were awakenings. Conversations flowed around design narratives, eco-friendly practices, and product diversification. The artisans weren’t told what to make, they were shown how to evolve their vision while staying rooted in their soul.Weaving the Future: From Local Hands to Global HopesThe workshop’s final note was not an ending, it was a beginning. Beyond patterns and products, artisans were introduced to the invisible tools of success: how to source better, maintain quality, and market themselves in the digital age. Coordinated locally by Mudang Tago (ADI-Ziro) and supported by officials like Toko Okey, Dinsung Hage, Rohit Sahu, and Maga Aminta, the event felt like the birth of a cultural ecosystem. What walked out of the workshop was not just a group of artisans, but changemakers. In their palms, threads now weave futures, stories, and pride. Arunachal’s artisans are no longer behind. They are ahead, with purpose, with power, and with fire.
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