Sponsors

The sponsors for our P.R Campaign 'Aakkam 2012' are the following: 

1. Aircel

2. Vassi Hospitality Pvt Ltd

3. Sairam and Shiv Cafe

4. Launch Pad

Profile of Ms. Vidya Shastri

Chief Guest, Kancheepuram visit, 10th September 2012

 

Ms. Vidya Shastri, is the CEO of “ The Craft Council Of India”. She has already spent 20 years of her life for the upliftment of the Handicraft Industry and Artisans. She has been associated with the craft council of India for 6 years now. Presently, the craft council of India along with Vidya Shastri is working with the government to conduct a census just for the hand made products and respective artisans. Vidya shastri along with the other members of CCI are a band of volunteers who are determined to get the artisans of our country the place in the society that they deserve.

Profile of Mr. R.V.Ramani

Chief Guest, Valedictory Function, 12th September 2012  

Mr. R.V.Ramani is a documentary and short film director based in Chennai. Mr. Ramani was born in 1957 in Mumbai and graduated in Physics from Mumbai University. He proceeded to work as a photojournalist in Mumbai before graduating from the Film and TV Institute of India, Pune, in the year 1985, with specialization in Motion Picture Photography.

 

 In 1989, he moved to Chennai working as a Cinematographer/filmmaker. Mr. Ramani started making independent documentaries and short films from 1990 and today, is one of the leading documentary filmmakers in India, with more than fifteen independent films to his credit. Carving out a unique style of his own in the field of documentary and short film production, Mr. Ramani has found acclaim in both the Indian and the International community for his works. He has participated in many International Film Festivals such as the Munich International Film Festival, Germany, Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, Japan, Kara International Film Festival, Pakistan and Videart International film Festival, Mexico.

Profile of Mrs. V. R. Devika

Guest of Honour, Inauguration Function, 11th of September 2012 

V.R.Devika, Managing Trustee

V. R. Devika, Founder and Managing trustee of The Aseema Trust,  is a well known cultural activist who has a passion for performing arts and education.

Devika’s PhD thesis is on “Gandhian communication for transformation: Philosophical issues and dimensions” at the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras. She conducts regular workshops on Charka-spinning, peace education and communication skills for students and teachers.

Devika has she received a certificate of honorary citizenship from the Governor of Maryland while she was a participant of  US state department’s International Visitor Leadership programme. She has received British Council’s Charles Wallace Award for Arts in Education in UK. She has been honored with Kalasevabharathi award from Bharath Kalachar for contributions to arts and education, the Gnanasamudhra award from Samudhra magazine, Satya Vimarshaka Sundaram from Natyanjali, a lifetime achievement award from the Amir Khusro music academy, a woman’s day honour from Jaycees, a best lecture demonstration award from the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha and vocational excellence awards from Rotary club, Karnataka Rajyothsava award from Kannada Sanghas of Chennai,. Manita neya panpalar from lioness’ club.

She has extensively travelled for conferences and lectures in Cambodia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sri Lanka, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UK and USA.

A former school teacher known for her use of elements of traditional performing arts as teaching tool and former director for Education and Culture of the Madras Craft Foundation, Devika continues as a member of the advisory council of Madras Craft Foundation and its project Dakshinachitra Heritage Center. She is closely associated with Prakriti Foundation and is a Citizens Run Trustee. She is on the board of International Partnership Network and Avvai Home.

A Bharathanatyam disciple of the Dhananjayans, she gives lectures on the theory and practice of the dance and culture of India and is a freelance art critic contributing to leading publications. She is on the world Gandhi speakers’ network and spins regularly on the Charkha and is a well known storyteller.

Profile of Mr. R. Mohan Kumar

Chief Guest, Inauguration Function, 11th September 2012

Mr. Mohan Kumar is the Joint Director, Uniforms Scheme, Department of Handlooms and Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu. He started his career as a group one officer twenty years ago in the same department as the Assistant Director. He graduated in Commerce from D.G.Vaishnava college, Chennai. He further pursued his Post Graduation in Commerce from Madras university. He has also undertaken training in Law from Ambedkar Law university.

Press Release

Aakkam- To the hands that mould

Chennai, 13th September 2012: To reach out to the artisans and to sensitize the youth towards the dying tradition of handicraft and handlooms in India, Department of Journalism, Madras Christian College, conducted a PR campaign, ‘Aakkam-To the hands that mould.’ The campaign, which was held as a part of the curriculum, was conducted from the 10th to the 13th of September, and was widely attended by the students from across the city.

 

The students of the department paid a visit to the artisan community of Kancheepuram on the first day of the campaign, which was graced by Mrs. Vidya Shastri, CEO, Craft Council of India, Chennai, as the Chief Guest. Mrs. Shastri held an informal discussion with the artisans, largely comprised of silk weavers, basket makers and potters, and enlightened them about the various schemes by the government for their welfare. This was followed by the artisans filling up the forms for availing an “Artisan id” card, which would provide them health care benefits and free education for their children among others.

The formal inauguration for the campaign was held on the 11th at Madras Christian college, with Mr. R. Mohan Kumar, Joint Director, Department of Handlooms and Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu, attending the event as the Chief Guest. Mrs. V.R.Devika, founder and Managing Trustee, ASEEMA Trust, who graced the event as the guest of Honour. Enticing the students with her demonstration of the spinning wheel, Mrs. Devika gave a brief idea about Gandhi’s ideology on handlooms and handicrafts, and focused on the point ‘Production by the masses, and not mass production.’

This was followed by a panel discussion on the topic ‘Is India doing enough to secure its future artisans’ between Mr. Muniswamy, a potter from Pondicherry and five time national awardee, and Mrs. Pushpa Chari, an eminent journalist. It was an enlightening session, with active student interaction, and highlighted the role of the government and the larger society towards the development of the artisan community.

The third day of the campaign started off with a guest lecture by the entrepreneur and retired journalist, Shanthi Ganesan, upon the topic ‘From a prominent contributor to the economy to a mere symbol of culture; Is India buying handmade products just as a reminder of its tradition?’

 This was later followed by various competitions and cultural performances all based on handicrafts and artisans. The campaign concluded with the valedictory function that was held later on the day, with India’s renowned documentary film maker, Mr. R V Ramani attending the event as the Chief Guest.