5 days ago
IIT-K centre's special gift for PM Modi a blend of traditional, contemporary
Lucknow: A memorable moment marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kanpur last week to inaugurate and lay the foundation for 15 development projects worth Rs 47,600 crore when he received a unique ceramic vase from the Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra (RSK), IIT-Kanpur.
The exclusive handcrafted ceramic vase was presented to the PM by ceramic designer Shailly Sangal and potter Shri Shankar Prajapati.
The gift was designed and created under the guidance of Prof Satyaki Roy, who blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design sensibilities at RSK, IIT-K.
The vases reflect the collaborative synergy between design expertise and artisanal skill, symbolise the spirit of innovation and show the culturally rich Bithoor of past treading into future.
While one vase has historic temples and 'Ganga Strotam' engraved on it, the other brings out the rich flora and indigenous variety of fruit trees of Ganga Katri area, that also holds its future.
The pair of vases was crafted by Shanker Prajapati of the historical town of Purana Bithoor near Kanpur and the artwork was done by Shailly Sangal. 'Ganga Strotam' was engraved on the vases by Shanti Devi of Nankari village, a local calligrapher, in Devanagari script.
The vases were packed using handmade paper, a languishing artform of Kalpi that RSK is trying to revive.
Through the design development initiative, IIT-K works with more than 100 potters from Kanpur region, upskilling them in new technologies, helping build kilns that allow low-temperature glazing, and providing a platform to showcase their art. The technical inputs from IIT-K team have enabled potters to improve the quality of their creations.
