"I hope to take best craftsmanship that Rajasthan has to offer to the most discerning connoisseurs."
"I was born and brought up in Delhi. I am a very warm person and am passionate about my work.
"My most difficult moments were spearheading the battles that my mother and my mother-in-law fought with cancer. While my mother in law recovered, my mother lost the long-drawn battle, leaving a big void in my heart. But I am happy and proud that I was able to be with both of them all through this difficult time, and I provided them the best possible support. These experiences taught me a lot in return, and I have grown much stronger and wiser after these episodes.
"I have always had a keen interest in crafts and, coming from the colorful state of Rajasthan, they played an important role in my profession. I was often mesmerized by the rich culture and crafts of my state. My frequent travels and the time spent with my extended family in Rajasthan got me more interested in this art form.
"I was brought up in the city so every time I visited my home town, I'd bring little presents back for my friends and relatives, mostly traditional handcrafted pieces. All them showed great appreciation at these awesome works of art. It occurred to me that there is a great market opportunity here if we could contemporize the designs, making them relevant to urban homes.
"What attracts me to Rajasthan's crafts is that they can be adapted to various forms and presentations, and they haven't been so much exposed to the outside world. This is how I started my own project. I work directly with craftsmen and market their designs in exhibitions and fairs. This has not only allowed me to fulfill my dream, but also to help many marginalized artisans financially. I also work with women, who have become financially independent and also more socially assertive.
"I hope to take best craftsmanship that Rajasthan has to offer to the most discerning connoisseurs. The world has already seen much art from Rajasthan, but there are still some hidden treasures and many more crafts that deserve appreciation. I dream of doing this and making a difference in the lives of many artisans whose crafts are languishing or gradually fading.
"I learn so much from my artisans. Knowledge is endless and there is always something to learn from every walk of life.
"I have spent an enormous amount of time reading and browsing the Internet to understand the market, to be able to make our work stand out from the different kinds of craft forms existing in India. My city upbringing coupled with strong rural roots in Rajasthan give me a good understanding of both the demand and supply sides.
"We specialize in almost all the crafts that Rajasthan is known for, like wood work, metal work, textiles, frames, meenakari, embossed work, hand painting, reclaimed, recycled and reused items, and more. I am constantly working to create something different using our traditional craft techniques.
"My whole family gets involved in every aspect of my work. Family members in Rajasthan collaborate directly with the artisans there. I focus on business development and design innovation. My degree in business administration has really helped me. While I enjoy every bit of my work, it has been a journey to pull together many things at the same time and provide vision to my team. There have been moments of failure, but small victories have always given hope to our future plans.
"My friends, who are also my customers, are my constant source of inspiration. Also the eagerness and forthcoming nature of our artisans inspire me. They find happiness in the smallest pleasures of life and I learn a lot from them.
"Apart from my work, my children keep me going. They are such treasures and I love them to death. I love spending time with them. My moments with my children are always filled with laughter. They are very proud and equally involved with the work I do. My four-year-old son always visits my exhibitions and questions me on what sold and why the rest did not sell."
