Lalita Vakil
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Lalita Vakil is an Indian
embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen on c ...
artist known for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of
Chamba Rumal The Chamba Rumal or Chamba handkerchief is an embroidered handicraft that was once promoted under the patronage of the former rulers of Chamba kingdom. It is a common item of gift during marriages with detailed patterns in bright and pleasing ...
, a traditional form of handkerchief embroidery from
Chamba district Chamba is the northwestern district of Himachal Pradesh, in India, with its headquarters in Chamba town. The towns of Dalhousie, Khajjhiar and Churah Valley are popular hill stations and vacation spots for the people from the plains of northe ...
in
Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh (; ; "Snow-laden Mountain Province") is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks ...
. Vakil has been awarded
Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
in 2022 by the
Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
for her contributions in the field of arts. She was also awarded the
Nari Shakti Puraskar The Nari Shakti Puraskar is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India to individual women or to institutions that work towards the cause of women empowerment. It is the highest civilian hon ...
in 2018.


Life

Vakil was married at the age of fifteen. It was her father-in-law who recognized her talent in creating designs for Chamba Rumal. He motivated her further to train local girls and women in this craft.


Career

Since the past fifty years, Vakil has been working for the promotion and preservation of Chamba Rumal. She has traveled extensively in India and abroad to exhibit her works and conduct workshops for this form of traditional embroidery. Vakil has often experimented with the designs of the Chamba Rumal. She was the first woman to introduce silk in the embroidery to create larger pieces of the handkerchief. Moreover, she has also developed designs for
sari A sari (sometimes also saree or shari)The name of the garment in various regional languages include: * as, শাৰী, xārī, translit-std=ISO * bn, শাড়ি, śāṛi, translit-std=ISO * gu, સાડી, sāḍī, translit-std= ...
s,
shawl A shawl (from fa, شال ''shāl'',) is a simple item of clothing from Kashmir, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular or square piece of cloth, which is often folded ...
s,
dupatta The dupattā is a Hindu shawl traditionally worn by women in Indian subcontinent to cover the head and shoulders. The dupatta is currently used most commonly as part of the women's shalwar kameez outfit, and worn over the kurta and the gharara. ...
s and stoles along with creation of multi-panel sets.


Awards

* 2009 -
Shilp Guru The Shilp Guru is the highest honour in the Indian handicrafts sector awarded by Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. It is conferred annually upon 10 master craftspersons who have created an exception ...
* 2017 - Nari Shakti Puraskar * 2022 - Padma Shri


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vakil, Lalita Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Living people Women artists from Himachal Pradesh 20th-century Indian women artists 21st-century Indian women artists Indian textile artists 20th-century women textile artists 20th-century textile artists Indian embroiderers Year of birth missing (living people)