Reviving Tradition: Integrating Indian Crafts into Contemporary Education

• Nikhil Tikhe

  Author

India’s diverse craft heritage is a vital part of its cultural and economic identity, especially in rural communities where these skills have been passed down for generations. Despite their rich value and relevance, traditional crafts remain largely excluded from mainstream education systems like CBSE, ICSE, and most state boards. When included, they are often presented in a diluted, urban-centric way detached from authentic artisan practices and materials.

This paper advocates for the meaningful integration of traditional crafts into early education through hands-on, material-based learning. Indigenous resources such as clay, sheep wool, hemp, bimal, sisal, rambans, and ringaal offer tremendous potential for contemporary design and skill-building. Engaging with these materials not only nurtures creativity and motor skills but also builds a deeper connection to local culture, sustainability, and rural livelihoods.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 opens new possibilities by encouraging vocational training and local knowledge systems. Leveraging this, a hybrid educational model is proposed blending classroom learning with craft workshops, artisan collaboration, and real-world application. Such a model supports both cultural preservation and skill development, aligning traditional knowledge with modern educational and market needs.

Incorporating crafts into formal education is more than heritage preservation it is a forward-looking strategy for sustainable development, community empowerment, and economic self-reliance. This approach repositions traditional crafts as living practices, capable of inspiring innovation and transformation in both local and global contexts.

1. Nikhil Tikhe

   Assistant Professor, UPES, Dehradun

   Dr Rakesh Sah

   Professor, UPES, Dehradun

• Reviving Tradition: Integrating Indian Crafts into Contemporary Education