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Basanti Nayak

Textile artisan

Artisan

2025

Basanti Nayak is a textile artisan and master craft person based in Nalamganj, Baleswar district, Odisha. She began learning the craft a couple of decades ago through self-learning and community mentorship acquiring skills through observation and sustained engagement with materials. Working primarily with textiles and tools such as sewing machines, her practice reflects acquired and practiced knowledge alongside adaptations developed over time. The craft holds cultural and social significance within its community and is closely tied to everyday use, shaped by local resources and seasonal rhythms. Economically, Basanti Nayak sustains her livelihood through local markets, collectives, intermediaries, institutional collaborations while negotiating challenges such as material scarcity, market pressures, or market demands. The self-help group and its work has been presented at exhibitions/fairs across the state. Committed to the continuity of the tradition, she emphasizes the importance of transmitting skills and knowledge to younger generations while responding to contemporary conditions.

Basanti Nayak, textile artisan and master craft person from Nalamganj, Baleswar district, Odisha, creating handcrafted textile products and promoting traditional craft through self-help groups and state-level exhibitions.

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