Guest Lecture on Hand Block Printing & Scheme of Handcraft Development

Department of Fashion & Textiles

Report on Guest Lecture

Objective of the workshop:

The objective of this guest lecture was to familiarises the students with handicraft development commission schemes and hand block printing.

Summary/Description:

Guest Lecture was conducted by the Department of Fashion & Textiles on 28.9.2022 from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm. Resource persons for the lecture were Mr. Shiv Kumar Kedre, Assistant Director, Development Commissioner Handicraft, Jaipur and Mr. Awdesh Kumar, an Artisan- Entrepreneur with National Awardee for Block Printing. Both the speakers were introduced by Ms. Divyanshi Gupta , President of  Fashion Design Council. Mr. Shiv Kumar Kedre explained the importance of Handicraft and Schemes of Handicrafts.  He said, Handicraft sector is second largest unorganized and employment generation sector. The government is doing remarkable work in the field of handicraft by implementing various schemes with the help of the central government. Most of the schemes are running under the supervision of the Ministry of Textiles. The artisans and young designers have no information about the different schemes of handicrafts. This is the biggest hurdle to the growth and development of the sector. Government is process of taking some fruitful steps to overcome these problems and they can use personal and non-personal methods to increase the awareness of schemes in urban and rural area. Younger designers can apply for the artisan’s card and they can help the artisans because most of the artisans have skill but no knowledge about the designing and how they can promote their work.

Second resource person Mr. Awdesh Kumar shared his own story. He said his family has been printing for many years. It is our way of life, what he had learnt the art from his elders of the family. It is a 500 or 600-year-old tradition, learned by practice. After practicing the craft and improving skills for several years, he began participating in exhibitions in many cities of India and abroad for showcasing the textiles which he had printed. The patterning was mostly small floral and leaf motifs. In past, natural colour such as indigo, Heena, Kamala, Lac, Maddar Logwood, Manjistha, Harda, Harshinghar and Black Syahi etc. were used for block printing.

He also explained the block printing process and manufacturing of block for printing, preparation of fabric for printing, preparation of colour and after treatment given to printed fabrics. After the lecture the students to interacted with him. Students felt that the session was informative and interactive.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Masha Afreen, President of Campus Activity of IIS University. Dr. Radha Kashyap, Head of the Department and Dr. Sulekha Ojha Additional Head presented a small token of appreciation to our valuable guests.

As per the feedback received from the participants it was very good learning experience, the lecture helped them in their understanding of the hand block printing.

Outcome of the workshop:

• Students got information regarding the field of handicraft and various schemes of the central government. They also understand the importance of Artisans card.
• They also understand the skill involved and whole process of hand block printing from preparatory to final stage.