IICD Craft Awards 2025
Genesis
IICD instituted the annual ‘Craft Awards’ in the year 2020, to commemorate the 25 year of its existence and in the memory of people who were the leaders to initiate craft & design development and education in India. This is to pay tribute to the stalwarts of the country who have done exemplary work in the craft sector and name the awards after them.
Craft Award Winners 2025
Pupul Jayakar Award for ‘Craft Entrepreneurship’
MeMeraki Retail and Tech Private Ltd.
MeMeraki empowers artisans by providing a platform to showcase traditional art through innovative projects, workshops, and global collaborations. From mural installations to smart watch designs, it supports over 100 indigenous art forms.
Suresh Neotia Award for ‘New Generation Crafts Person’
Mr. Sindhe Siva
A 7th-generation Tholu Bommalata puppeteer from Andhra Pradesh, Sindhe Siva revitalizes the ancient craft through bilingual storytelling, multimedia innovation, and socially relevant themes while promoting ethical leather and natural dye practices.
M.P. Ranjan Award for contribution in ‘Craft Design Education’
Mr. N. K. Chaudhary
Jaipur Rugs Company. By transforming villages into studios and weavers into designers, he has created a scalable model for craft design education and strengthened artisan-led innovation and livelihoods.
Kripal Singh Shekhawat Award for ‘Innovation in Craft Design’
Mr. Karthik Vaidyanathan
Founder of Varnam Craft Collective, he works with Channapatna artisans to transform the 200-year-old toy-making tradition into contemporary home and lifestyle products while empowering women artisans through design and training.
Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay Award for ‘Social Impact in the Craft Sector’
Mrs. Jagada Rajappa
Mrs. Jagada Rajappa has spent over 40 years reviving natural dyes, especially traditional indigo, through dedicated training, workshops, and research. Her work has empowered artisans, preserved indigenous knowledge, and influenced craft education nationwide.
Jury Members
Arjun Narne
Arjun Narne is a seasoned professional with over 36 years of leadership experience across multiple sectors. He currently serves as the General Secretary of the Crafts Council of Telangana.
His association with the Council dates back to 1988, and he has also served as Joint Secretary on its Executive Committee. Arjun leads initiatives focused on sustainable development of artisan communities, including advocacy, documentation, and public outreach. His work strengthens the handloom and handicrafts ecosystem of India. With expertise in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and artisan cluster development, he continues to promote cultural preservation by actively engaging with craft clusters across the country.
Meera Goradia
Meera Goradia is the Co-Chair of Creative Dignity (Handmade Sector Wellbeing) and has been working with the artisanal sector across India since 1989.
She has extensive experience in artisan development, business management, exports, and institutional leadership. As Director of Khamir, she led key initiatives such as the development of Kala cotton, market linkages, and organizational growth. Since 2016, she has worked as a consultant with organizations like Jaypore, AIACA, and IMG Reliance, while continuing her association with Khamir. Since 2020, she has played a key role in shaping Creative Dignity, a network supporting the artisan ecosystem. Her work emphasizes preserving traditional knowledge systems and sustaining craft-based livelihoods. Her specialties include business development, creative direction, and incubation of value-added products and services.
Virendra Kumar
Virendra Kumar serves as the Regional Director (Handicrafts), Government of India, New Delhi. He has over 20 years of experience in the handicrafts sector and 8 years in the MSME sector.
He has held leadership roles including Director (In-Charge) at the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Bhadohi. His work includes policy formulation for the handicrafts sector, artisan welfare, and promotion of India’s cultural heritage. He has extensive experience working with artisans across North Eastern, Eastern, Central, and Northern regions of India. He believes that handicrafts blend traditional techniques with contemporary expressions, making them creations of both skill and soul. He is committed to preserving traditional crafts and expanding opportunities for the sector in domestic and international markets.
K.V. Kanchana
K.V. Kanchana is the CEO of the Network of Indian Cultural Enterprises (NICE). She brings over 18 years of experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, business development, and financial and operations management.
As the CEO of NICE, she leads the organization’s mission to build a strong ecosystem for cultural enterprises across sectors such as food & beverage, fashion, home décor, experiential tourism, and health & wellness. Through market interventions, partnerships, funding, policy advocacy, and research, she works towards nurturing globally competitive Indian cultural brands and shaping Brand India.
