Crafting Futures: Women Leading Heritage Preservation

Dipali sews the grass with its stems to make baskets – a traditional craft she learned from her grandparents. Sabai is a kind of grass that grows in abundance on fallow land in West Bengal. She has seen her grandparents and parents weave sabai into ropes and sell them in the local haat.

Gouri, a madur artist, is known for weaving portraits and landscapes on mats. She now heads a mat weaving unit in West Bengal employing 40 women.

Swarna inherited the patachitra scroll painting tradition from her father. Now, she not only creates beautifully painted scrolls, but also composes songs to narrate stories which go along with these scrolls. From stories and tales of mythology to modern issues, patachitra scroll painting incorporates visuals and sound to depict a wide array of themes.

The crafts of Dipali, Gouri, and Swarna were among the demonstrations showcased at UNESCO House in New Delhi for the International Women’s Day celebration.

The one-day event included craft demonstrations, panel discussions with women artisans, and cultural performances, serving as a platform for women to share their inspiring stories and insights on their journey towards economic empowerment, digital inclusion, and gender equality.

Dipali, from Purulia, said: “Since we used to stay at home all day in the village, we used to make small items from Sabai ropes for our homes. Through the project, I got training to diversify and market the products and now I have travelled within India and internationally to showcase my craft. It is not just a livelihood for me, it has also given me my identity.”

UNESCO's initiatives such as the Rural Craft and Cultural Hubs programme in West Bengal state and the project for Strengthening Intangible Cultural Heritage Based Tourism in western Rajasthan have empowered women while preserving cultural heritage.

A musical performance by Rina Das Baul (West Bengal) and a kalbelia dance performance by Suwa Devi (Rajasthan) highlighted the vibrant living heritage of the two states. 

Tim Curtis, Director of UNESCO Office for South Asia, said: “Women play a pivotal role in the practice, transmission, and safeguarding of living heritage. Women are usually at the frontline of transmitting the know-how and content of their living heritage to the next generations and as such they are in a real sense the true custodians of the identity of communities. Moreover, the active participation of women in cultural activities helps bridge gender gaps and build inclusive, sustainable societies.” 

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