‘DHAROHAR’

A THREE DAY NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CRAFT AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT

FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

oWorkshop Patron: Prof. Pradipta Banerji, Director, IIT Roorkee

oChief Guest: Mrs. Amita Sharma (former Secretary, Govt. of India)

oWorkshop Coordinator: Smriti Saraswat, Assistant Professor

Department of Architecture and Planning

oWorkshop Co-Coordinator(s): Dr. Ila Gupta, HOD

Department of Architecture and Planning

Dr. Gaurav Raheja, Associate Professor

Department of Architecture and Planning

Harshit Lakra, Assistant Professor

Department of Architecture and Planning

Saptarshi Kolay, Assistant Professor

Department of Architecture and Planning

oOrganised under the aegis of: Centre for Urban Design and Development (CUDD), IIT Roorkee

oDates: 16th - 18th August 15

oInvited Experts: 07 (from all over India)

oCraftperson(s): 26 (from different parts of Uttarakhand)

oIn-House Mentors: 06 (from different departments of IIT Roorkee)

oStudents: 90 (from all over India including IIT Roorkee)

oCraft and Skills in Focus: Aepan; Copper; Ringal; Wood; Weaving

oSupport: UHHDC; UBFDB; DIC Almora and Studio Alaya

Brief Outline

‘Dharohar’ means Heritage. The state of Uttarakhand is home to unique and exquisite art and

craft forms such as aepan; tamta (copper); ringaal kaam (a natural grass like bamboo);

raambans; lantana; likhai kaam (wood carving); pashan kala (stone craft); kaashth kala

(wood craft); natural fibres; textiles; candle making; and several indigenous architectural

styles that have been nurtured, practiced and celebrated by countless artisans and

craftpersons. IIT Roorkee aims to document and study the indigenous art-craft forms and

skills in Uttarakhand that have ingrained in them the material and spiritual sensibilities of the

region and its culture. It further aims to endure a rigorous process to preserve this knowledge

repository and make available new avenues of access to the creative and cultural industries,

focusing on the symphony of tradition and continuity, without losing the identity and

originality. This workshop was a small attempt in this endeavour. It was a tribute to the art-

craft and artisans-craftpersons of India, and was especially dedicated to commend and

glorify such traditions and skills in Uttarakhand. The workshop had three focus areas:

1) Heritage Awareness and Cultural Industries

2) Craft and Skill Development for Sustainable Design

3) Future Road Maps

Lighting of Lamp by Craftpersons Honouring the Craftpersons Director IIT Roorkee and the Chief Guest

launching the report – ‘Sanchay’

Aepan Workshop Copper Workshop

Ringal Workshop Wood Workshop

Weaving Workshop

Craft Bazaar and Exhibition

The Patron and the Chief Guest

addressing the gathering

Distinguished Guests and Audience Coordinator and the Co-Coordinator

in conversation

Co-Coordinators enjoying the meal Co-Coordinator conducting a

session

The Expert Speakers on Stage,

ready to share their insight

The In-House Mentors in Action Valedictory and the Certificate Distribution

Future Vision

1) Creating Culturally Sustainable Livelihoods: In sync with the government mandate for

promoting ‘skill development’ and ‘make in India’, this workshop resulted in the creation

of a steering group comprising of varied stakeholders (artisans, craftpersons, students,

mentors, other participants), who will discuss and develop ways to take the craftpersons’

skills forward for creating culturally sustainable livelihoods. On the eve of Independence

Day, IIT Roorkee launched this workshop with an endeavour to work towards creating

independent and sustainable ways of living for the artisans and craftpersons of

Uttarakhand.

2) Developing Frameworks of Innovation embedded in Tradition: IIT Roorkee will continue 2) Developing Frameworks of Innovation embedded in Tradition: IIT Roorkee will continue

to facilitate exchanges between artisans, craftpersons, young students in design schools,

experts and professionals to promote interaction, and develop frameworks of innovation

focusing on skill development; innovative prototypes; ways of production and marketing;

and, better employment (but, without losing originality and identity of these art and craft

forms)

3) A Centre in the near future focusing on Skill Development: In fact, these workshops,

which are proposed as series, may be considered as the operative end of a larger centre in

the near future, where individual art and craft clusters are engaged with.