Ritu Kumar to be honoured with ‘Padma Shri’

Veteran Indian designer Ritu Kumar is among the celebrated

names from the world of art who will be awarded the Padma Shri this year. This is the first time a mainstream Indian designer is being accorded a Padma award. The designer says her Padma award shows that the government’s mind-set is broadening. When she received a call from the Home Ministry informing her about the award, it was a moment of disbelief for her. She has been awarded the Padma Shri for her efforts to revive Indian crafts, textiles and handlooms.

“My first reaction was, if I do get this, I hope it opens up doors for me, enables me to knock on doors and ask for something more to be done for the revival of Indian textiles and handlooms. At least I will have access to people who decide things. Mind you, it feels great to be acknowledged for one’s work, but also, the fact that the government is breaking the mould of looking at films, sports and music essentially, and is now looking at neo industries like fashion, shows it is getting broadminded and looking at these channels seriously too,” says the veteran designer.

Kumar adds further, saying, “At least our indigenous fashion, as compared to, say, Thailand or China, is still there. Our crafts and textiles are our strength. It is really an endangered art now all over the world. It is the grit and determination of the hundreds of those nameless kaarigars that has kept the true contribution of Indian fashion to the world alive. The revival of crafts is India’s true fashion story. It is their efforts and handiwork that make Indian fashion stand apart in the world. So, yes, this award is not an eccentric choice, but recognition of them all.”