Hyderabad: PhD scholars bid to boost handlooms & handicrafts in Osmania University

Osmania University: With a sincere motive to encourage the Indian handicrafts and handlooms and an attempt to uplift the long-lost Telangana culture, Milcah Paul and N Pavani, PhD (PhD in Home Science with specialisation in Family Resource Management) research scholars from the College of Community Science, Saifabad, came up with a unique idea of promoting the artform.

As part of the initiative, the duo set up a small enterprise where they make handmade products for daily household use. "There is fall in demand for handlooms and handicrafts, though there are so many skilled artisans. The consumers do not encourage hand-made products nowadays and don't buy and appreciate the hard work the artisans put in. We wanted to give back to the art form and to the weavers," says Milcah Paul.

Fabrics are sourced from Siripuram-Yellanki, Kothawada and Kamalapur clusters. The Cheriyal painting materials are sourced from artisans in Hyderabad.

Currently undertaking product customizations, bulk orders, and affordable gifting options. Some of the products include table linen, coasters, handmade paper items, jute jewelry and bags, Kashmiri embroidery purses, canvas paintings, glass paintings, bedsheets, Curtains, plate mats, handbags, chocolates, lampshades and many more all the items are handmade.

"We are now planning to extend our work among consumers by setting up stalls at various exhibitions to spread more awareness about handlooms and handicrafts," adds Milcah.

It is college assignments that made Milcah and Pavani lean toward handicrafts and handlooms. They are planning to take this initiative to next level by setting up a small unit within the city and to source handicraft products to other states too.

"In our research work, we have developed diverse and innovative interior furnishings and accessories with a motive to empower the Artisans and weavers through product diversification, which can increase the demand for their products. These researches were done at College of Community Science, affiliated to Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad" concludes Milcah.

Apart from this initiative the duo has also gained experience about the art form and history of Handicraft and Handlooms through Doctoral research.