National Handicrafts Week 2025 celebrations concludes with the first Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Craft Lecture Series on “Handmade for Gen-Next” By Padam Bhushan awardee Rajeev Sethi

**Executive Summary** The Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, launched the inaugural Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Craft Lecture Series, featuring a keynote lecture by Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Rajeev Sethi on the theme "Handmade for Gen-Next." The event, part of National Handicrafts Week 2025 celebrations, took place on December 14, 2023, at the International Craft Complex, New Delhi. The lecture series pays tribute to Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, regarded as the mother of India's craft renaissance. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Lecture Series Inauguration:** * The inaugural edition of the Kamladevi Chattopadhyay Craft Lecture Series was launched. * The event featured a keynote lecture by Padma Bhushan awardee Shri Rajeev Sethi. * **Lecture Theme and Focus:** * The lecture theme was "Handmade for Gen-Next." * The lecture addressed critical questions about the endurance of handmade crafts in the face of technological change. * It underlined the power of the human hand, skills, and sensitivity in craft production. * Emphasis on the alignment of handmade crafts with sustainability through less mechanized production. * **Event Participants:** * The event was attended by over 100 participants. * Participants included prominent designers, scholars, Shilp Gurus, National Awardees, and architects. * **Statements:** * Smt. Amrit Raj, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), emphasized the central role of Indian artisans in sustainable growth and global leadership in handmade excellence. * She added that the series pays tribute to Kamaladevi ji's insistence on integrating crafts with education, livelihoods, and nation-building. * **Government Agency Role:** * The Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) is the nodal agency in the Government of India for craft and artisan-based activities. * It assists in the development, marketing, and export of handicrafts and the promotion of craft forms and skills. **Impact Analysis** **Artisans** * **Impact:** They are recognized as central to India's vision of inclusive, sustainable growth, and global leadership in handmade excellence. The event serves as a reminder of their importance. * **Action Required:** Continue their work in handmade crafts, contributing to sustainable production, localized livelihoods, and the empowerment of women and marginalized communities. **Craft Sector Stakeholders (Designers, Scholars, Shilp Gurus, etc.)** * **Impact:** The lecture series provides a platform for discussion and reflection on the role of handmade crafts in the modern world. * **Action Required:** Engage in discussions and contribute to the discourse on the challenges and opportunities for handmade crafts in the context of technological change and cultural homogenization. **Government of India / Ministry of Textiles** * **Impact:** The lecture series reinforces the government's commitment to promoting and supporting the handicraft sector, recognizing its economic and cultural significance. * **Action Required:** Continue supporting the Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) in its efforts to develop, market, and export handicrafts and promote craft forms and skills.

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