M’lore:  Namma Angadi Expo Launched, Rural Artisans Get Marketing Platform

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/VA)

Mangalore, Feb 18: Prof Chinnappa Gowda, registrar, Mangalore University inaugurated  ‘Namma Angadi’, a three-day exhibition-cum-sale of handicrafts, handloom and eco- friendly products at Ravindra Kala Bhavan, University College, Hampankatta here on Friday February 18.

P P Hegde, advocate and vice chairman, Karnataka State for Council and professor Laxmi Narayana Bhat,  principal,  University  College also graced the inaugural ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinnappa Gowda said, “I am reminded of two schools of thought, Nehruvian and Gandhian. Namma Angadi derives its concept from the latter and thus supports the Swadeshi movement that once was once responsible for the freedom of our great nation-India. Here, at Namma Angadi they are not just selling the products but are selling the thought of Gandhiji. An initiative that definitely needs some limelight and we should support this cause.”

“India  is  a  developing  nation,  undoubtedly;  but  we  should  move  in  the  lines  of  sustainable by  creating  a  platform  to  these  rural  children  we  are  definitely  moving  towards  that  better India", he added.

P P Hegde said, “We see a lot of advertisements of harmful products and people consume it everyday but we do not get to see these products here at Namma Angadi on  papers  or  in  ads.  We  should  support  such  industries  that  promote  and  cherish Indian  tradition.  People  like  Baba  Ramdev  also  have  come  forward  and  supported such movements. We should learn from this and try and give back as much as can to our nation".

“We  at  Namma  Bhoomi  train  our  children  and  see  that  they  do  not  leave  us  and serve  other  nations.  There  are  thousands  of  them  who  are  with  us  and  serving  our organisation even after having learnt under us. So I think it is the job of the teachers to  appeal  to  their  children  in  universities  to  motivate  them  to  serve  not  a  foreign nation but our own. Harmony is not found outside, it is found within us", said Ganapathi, assistant director, Concern for Working Children. (CWC).

Namma Angadi is a marketing platform for rural artisans to market their products. It is set up with a view to help the village-based craftsmen, who could not visualize a future for their occupations due to dwindling demand for traditional products and lack of raw materials.  These hindrances led to the migration of rural people to urban areas (especially children) in search of jobs and livelihood. Thus it was set up to revive the village economy and support the livelihood of rural artisans. Namma Angadi strives towards excellence through interventions from various experts, advanced training for graduate children, improved product designs, financial management and marketing.

The exhibition has cotton kurtas for men and women, shirts, kalamkari dress materials, artistic sarees, children’s clothing, lavancha products, terracotta products, traditional utensils and home accessories, traditional footwear, ethnic jewellery, pure wild honey,  organic food products, Kokum, Shikakai, aloevera soaps ,wooden furniture , rare paintings and stationery items.

‘Namma Angadi’ will be open for the public between 10.00 am to 9.00 pm on all three days. The event will have the participation of artisans who will present a live demonstration of terracotta sculpting.