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Raniben Ratilal Bhanani

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Artform: Narrative Applique
Education: 4th Grade

Raniben was born in Nagar Parkar, Pakistan. In 1972, she migrated to India. After living in a refugee camp for 8 years, she received Indian citizenship. Her husband began a school for their community, and she earned as a suf artisan. A founder member of Kala Raksha, she pioneered the design committee, and patchwork products created by older women.
After the earthquake of 2001, she was one of the first women to create personally expressive narrative work. Her pieces have been shown in Manly Australia, and the Prince of Wales Museum in Mumbai, and were featured in International Gallerie, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2006.

She has taught workshops in Australia in 2008, and her work and voice star in the award winning animated film, “The Stitches Speak.”

Partner Organization

Kala Raksha

Kala Raksha Trust, a grassroots social enterprise, is dedicated to preservation of traditional arts. We envision this broadly, as holistic encouraging of the creative capacity of the artist. Comprising artisans, community members, and experts in the fields of art, design and museums, Kala Raksha was founded on artisan initiative in 1993 in the desert region Kutch, in India. Uniquely committed to documenting existing traditions, the Trust maintains a collection of heirloom textiles housed as a local Museum. Artisans participated in establishing this Museum. Thus it embodies a simple but revolutionary concept: involve people in presenting their own cultures. Artisan initiative and participation continue to be the ... Show more

Kala Raksha
Location: Kutch, Gujarat, India
Artisans Served: 1,000
Number of Villages: 25
Focus: Art Preservation, Education, Health, Earthquake Rehab
Affiliation: Ashoka, UNESCO, Govt of India

Talk with Raniben Ratilal Bhanani

Isobel McGarry commented on February 20, 2011, 1:38 am

"Raniben .. Hello from Isobel in Australia.. I did a workshop with you at Geelong... I still think of you and hope you are keeping well, and I am still trying to stitch as fantastically as you do !! x Isobel"

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Village: Sumrasar Sheikh
Drinking Water: Yes-Average
Electricity: Yes
Roads: Good
School: Primary
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