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News18
18 hours ago
- Business
- News18
The Untold Stories Of Kachchh Artisans Leading A Sustainable Fashion Movement
Last Updated: Artisans of Kachchh are redefining 'Made in India' through sustainable design, heritage revival, and their own creative authorship. In India's vibrant craft landscape, the 'Made in India" label is often celebrated but as Amrita Somaiya, Trustee of Somaiya Vidyavihar and Governing Board Member, Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV), points out, it rarely tells the whole story. 'The label 'Made in India' has long served as a catch-all, often overlooking the nuanced identities, skills, and stories of the artisans who actually create these pieces. To move toward more honest representation, we need a fundamental shift from seeing artisans as anonymous producers to recognizing them as designers, storytellers, and entrepreneurs in their own right," she says. At SKV, this shift is driven by design education for traditional artisans, enabling them to innovate from within their own traditions. Through initiatives like Design Craft, artisan-designer collections reach the market under their own names, allowing buyers to connect with both the maker and the meaning behind the work. 'Craft is not a monolith. It's diverse, dynamic, and deeply personal. The future lies in moving from 'Made in India' to 'Designed and Made by…', where the name and identity of the artisan are not hidden but proudly celebrated," adds Somaiya. For Somaiya, sustainability is not just a question of materials, but of livelihoods. 'It's about making sure that the incredible traditions we work with don't just survive, but thrive in the hands of the artisans who own them… For me, sustainability is about keeping the heritage alive, communities strong, and our connection to the earth, to our culture, and to each other intact." Journeys of Craft and Change Among the artisans who have taken this philosophy to heart is Aashiya Khatri, a Bandhani artisan-designer from a family steeped in the tradition. She admits she once dismissed the craft as 'too symmetric and typical" until she began exploring contemporary, abstract forms. 'That's how I decided to take up Bandhani as a career to supply to people like me who like crafts, but need something modern," she explains. Kishan Bokhani, an extra-weft weaver, first learned his craft in primary school but nearly left it behind while studying to become an electrician. The realisation that this path would make him 'a labourer, not a skilled artisan" drew him back. His design education at SKV opened new creative possibilities. 'Before joining SKV, I mostly produced designs created by others. Now I create my own designs, collections, and brand SAATKHANI and work independently." For Akhtar Khatri, Batik is a six-generation family legacy. He recalls his early years in the workshop watching cutting, printing, and dyeing processes, and later joining SKV to hone his design and marketing skills. 'After graduating, my vision changed. I developed a USP in the market and launched my own brand 'Miniya by Akhtar.' We are not just artisans anymore, we are designers too." Sustainability in Practice For Aashiya, sustainability is a deeply personal, almost familial value. She tells the story of her mother bringing home restaurant food in stainless steel containers to avoid plastic. 'Her small act serves as a powerful lesson that sustainability isn't just about trendy buzzwords; it's about making conscious choices that align with our beliefs." In her workshop, waste cloth is repurposed into diaries, bags, and more. Kishan stays true to traditional extra-weft weaving techniques even as designs evolve. Akhtar, meanwhile, is reviving natural dyes, reducing chemical use, and prioritising handwoven fabrics. 'Natural dye plays an important role in sustainability… it benefits the environment and supports employment from farming to weaving," he says. Overcoming Resistance Innovation in traditional crafts is rarely without its critics. Aashiya faced skepticism from seniors who feared modernisation would dilute Bandhani's identity. Her answer was to highlight the craft's unique intricacy, which transcends motifs. Kishan's departure from regular patterns met similar doubts, but his SKV-inspired collections proved successful. Akhtar had to educate customers about the true value of high-quality Batik, contrasting it with mass-produced market versions. Looking Forward Hope runs deep among these artisans. Aashiya believes Bandhani is 'evergreen," with roots stretching back to the Ajanta Caves, and sees modernisation as the key to survival. Kishan envisions a future where more weavers become recognised artisan-designers. Akhtar's ambition is to take Kutch's Batik printing to national and international stages while keeping it sustainable and innovative. As Somaiya reflects, the sustainable fashion movement in Kachchh is not just about preserving craft, it's about transforming the way the world sees artisans. Through education, authorship, and visibility, these creators are reclaiming the narrative of what 'Made in India" truly means. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Hizbul-Mujahideen Chief's Son Granted Bail, Another Denied
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday granted bail to one of the sons of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin while denying the relief to another in a terror funding case. A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur dismissed the bail plea of Salahuddin's son Shahid Yusuf saying the court cannot ignore the larger conspiracy brought forth by the prosecution. Considering prosecution's allegation of the use of hawala channels to route terror funds into Jammu and Kashmir, the court said Yusuf was allegedly part of this network. "The nature of the allegations and the material placed on record prima facie establish the appellant's involvement in this conspiracy and his direct contact with known members of the proscribed terrorist outfit." The order said he was allegedly received money from co-accused Aijaz Ahmad Bhat alias Aijaz Maqbool Bhat, knowing the funds would be used to further terrorist activities. The possibility of Yusuf being a flight risk, the high court said, couldn't be ruled out, particularly given that he reportedly travelled on a passport with a falsified parental identity previously and destroyed the document later. There exists a real likelihood of his tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses, the bench said. While granting bail to Syed Ahmad Shakeel, the court said he has already suffered prolonged incarceration of 6.11 years without any certainty of the trial concluding within a reasonable time. The court said the mainstay of the prosecution against Shakeel was the receipt of money and not its use for any terrorist activity. He was observed to be a government servant, working as a senior lab technician in the Department of Microbiology at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura. "Keeping in view the role assigned to the appellant (Shakeel), continued detention of the appellant at this stage would not serve the ends of justice," the bench said. He was granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties of the like amount. Shakeel was arrested by the NIA on August 30, 2018 from his residence in Srinagar in relation to a terror funding case lodged in 2011. According to the NIA, the case relates to the transfer of funds through hawala channels by the terrorists based in Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir, in a criminal conspiracy hatched with some operatives in India, to fuel and fund the secessionist and terrorist activities in J&K. Yusuf was arrested in October, 2017 on the allegations of receiving funds from Hizb-ul-Mujahideen from abroad and was chargesheeted in 2018. Shakeel was alleged to have received money through Western Union from absconding accused Aijaz Ahmad Bhat and his name had also surfaced in raising, receiving and collecting funds from the terrorist organisation through cadres from Saudi Arabia. Syed Salahuddin, designated as a "global terrorist" by the United States, is the self-styled commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. PTI SKV SKV AMK AMK
News18
3 days ago
- Business
- News18
ED opposes Sanjay Bhandaris plea against fugitive offender tag in Delhi HC
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Friday opposed in the Delhi High Court a plea of UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari against a trial court's order declaring him a 'fugitive economic offender". The probe agency said when the trial court's order was passed in July, the court was aware about an assessment order showing Rs 655 crore of property was surreptitiously acquired. His counsel and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, however, argued before Justice Neena Bansal Krishna that the prosecution was initiated without completion of assessment proceedings and if the assessment was incomplete, where was the reason to believe that the tax evasion was over Rs 100 crore. 'They had no evidence to show that there was a Rs 100 crore tax liability. There has to be reason to believe that the tax liability is more than Rs 100 crore. Now if the assessment is not completed, where is the reason to believe that it is more than Rs 100 crore. This application (to declare him a fugitive) did not lie. It was premature," he submitted. Seeking a stay and quashing of the trial court proceedings, Sibal said Bhandari would be remediless the moment they declare him a fugitive. 'They (ED) don't follow the law, they want to declare me a fugitive offender and take over Rs 400-500 crores of my property and don't allow me to file any claim. This is the state of law in this country," he said. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, said, 'When the order was passed the trial court was aware that there was an assessment order showing that Rs 655 crore of property has been surreptitiously acquired and on the date of the order, there was more than Rs 100 crore tax liability and Rs 196 crore of tax evasion is there." The court posted the matter for August 20. The trial court on July 5 declared Bhandari a 'fugitive economic offender" on a plea by the ED, an order that allows the agency to confiscate all the assets worth crores of rupees of Bhandari, whose chances to come to India have been virtually nullified after a UK court recently ruled against his extradition. Bhandari's legal team, while opposing the ED's move to get him declared a fugitive offender, claimed its 'client's stay could not be called illegal in the UK as he has a legal right to reside in the UK and the government of India is bound by the judgment of the UK court… Bhandari is legally living there, and declaring him a 'fugitive' in that scenario is legally wrong". The trial court said the 'extradition attempt may have failed, but it will not make the accused an angel or immune from prosecution for the violation of Indian laws". Bhandari (63) fled to London in 2016, soon after the I-T department raided him in Delhi. The ED filed its first chargesheet against Bhandari in 2020. The agency is probing Bhandari's links with Robert Vadra, the businessman husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. PTI SKV SKV AMK AMK view comments First Published: August 08, 2025, 17:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
7 days ago
- News18
Delhi HC denies bail to man held for raping, killing minor cousin
New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has refused to grant bail to a man, accused of raping and killing his eight-year-old cousin, saying a relationship of trust between cousins was exploited in a 'brutal" way. Justice Girish Kathpalia's August 1 judgment further noted public outcry and media coverage of the incident couldn't get the gravity of offence diminished. 'At the stage of bail, the court cannot minutely examine the evidence on record. The broad picture recorded above shows the gruesome manner in which an eight year old girl was raped and killed, that too by her own cousin," the order said. The court said the offence under Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) POCSO Act was punishable with rigorous imprisonment for minimum term of 20 years which may extend to life imprisonment. The provision under Section 6 of the act not just fixes the minimum punishment as rigorous imprisonment for 20 years, the order said, but further stipulates that life term shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of natural life of the convict. Of course, the other offence being under Section 302 (murder) IPC is punishable with death as well, the court added. 'It is not just the grave consequences of the offences alleged against the accused. One also cannot ignore that a relationship of trust between the cousins was exploited by the accused and in a such brutal manner," Justice Kathpalia said. The man was booked in April 2016 on the statement of the minor girl's father, who said she had gone missing while playing outside her house after what seemed like a kidnapping. During the investigation, the police learnt the girl was last seen with her cousin and the next day, a girl child's body was recovered behind a cremation ground in Uttam Nagar area. The body was identified to be of the victim and the accused was arrested subsequently. The man sought bail arguing he was framed owing to public pressure and media trial. Saying he had been in jail for over nine years, the accused said he couldn't be confined indefinitely. The prosecutor opposed the plea saying despite the COVID lockdown and other factors, four of the 20 prosecution witnesses were examined with all of them supporting the police's case. He also referred to the DNA profiling, which reflected DNA of the accused on the body and clothes of the girl. The high court said prolonged incarceration was certainly a ground to release the accused on bail, but not the solitary ground. 'The court has to keep in mind various judicially sanctified parameters, including the nature and gravity of the alleged crime and the material on record to support the same," it said. PTI SKV SKV AMK AMK view comments First Published: August 04, 2025, 18:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
24-07-2025
- News18
Derogatory remarks in complaints to spouse's employer cruelty: Delhi HC
New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has said derogatory and defamatory remarks in complaints to the estranged spouse's employer amounts to cruelty and upheld the divorce granted to a man. A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Renu Bhatnagar in its July 1 verdict said marriage entails mutual respect and adjustment and some parties take less time to adjust with each other while the others take longer time. The order, however, highlighted both parties were expected to show due respect to each other. 'Irrespective of the merits of these complaints, and regardless of whether the allegations made therein were false or true, we find that making such derogatory and defamatory remarks in the form of complaints to the employer of the spouse are nothing but cruelty," the bench said. The order termed 'tolerance, adjustment and mutual respect" to be the foundations of a 'sound and healthy marriage". Dismissing the woman's appeal, the court upheld a family court order of divorce to the husband on the ground of cruelty by the wife. The couple married in 1989 and had two children before separating in 2010-11. The wife moved the high court against the divorce decree and claimed her estranged husband resorted to various illegal measures to forcibly evict her and their children from the matrimonial home. The high court observed the allegations of adultery levelled by the parties against each other. Both the woman and the man accused each other of adultery. The court said the woman's complaints to her husband's employer, particulary about the unfounded allegation of adultery, can't be used to address the issues of any wrong done to her for his employer had no role. The order noted that the woman's complaints were made to harass the husband and humiliate him before his colleagues at workplace. The bench said the family court rightly dissolved the marriage between the parties by upholding the allegations of cruelty based on the man's evidence. 'The fact that the parties have been living separately for a long time period of time, that is, around fifteen years now, without any resumption of marital cohabitation between the parties, can also be considered as an added ground while deciding the divorce petition," the court said. PTI SKV SKV AMK AMK view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 20:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
