Ahmedabad SEWA museum opens with 1,700 artefacts

Keep the Community Museum at Radhanpur in Banaskantha on a priority if you visit the district. Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) on Monday inaugurated the museum to preserve motifs and techniques of traditional embroidery art of 12 communities of the regions. The museum was inaugurated by Gloria Steinem, a noted columnist and social leader from America, and Ela Bhatt, SEWA founder.

The museum displays around 1,700 artefacts and embroidery by communities like Ahir, Rabari, Chamar, Baloch, Jaat, Darbar and many others. SEWA felt the need to come up with such a museum to keep new generations' interest in these traditions which face the threat of loss of interest in times of industrialisation. The museum is also the first of its kind in Gujarat, owned and maintained by women artisans to preserve their own art and craft.