Shamlu Dudeja| Pahechan|Chairperson at Calcutta Foundation & SHE Foundation

Shamlu Dudeja is a multi-faceted personality. A Maths teacher and author of books, a revivalist, a revolutionary in the field of ‘good for others’. She credits her talents to her parents. A deep understanding of Mathematics came from her father, and a keen eye for design and detail in hand-embroideries from her mother. Shamlu’s most significant contributions to society have been: a) the revival of Kantha, with the support of her daughter, Malika b) publication of several series of Maths text books for India and Pakistan c) welfare work, in many fields, as Chairperson of Calcutta Foundation Shamlu, a name now synonymous with Kantha, a beloved traditional craft, a tangible cultural heritage of Bengal. Through her intensive marketing efforts, from a poor man’s quilting stitch, Kantha has become one of the most revered styles of embellishment for textiles, both in India and abroad. This has helped thousands of Kantha stitch artisans realise their potential and live with a sense of dignity. She stands by her belief, “I will promote Kantha till I live, to support the women behind it.”