Asha Patil & Seema Kishore Are Revitalising Lambani Cultural Heritage

Asha Patil and Seema Kishore, two dynamic entrepreneurs with an unyielding passion for cultural preservation embarked on a journey to breathe new life into Vijayapura's cultural richness. Their organisation, Banjara Kasuti, resonates a deep-rooted commitment to honouring ethnic heritage by empowering the women of the Lambani community. Mirror by mirror, bead by bead, the Lambani women are weaving their traditional art into India's contemporary sartorial landscape. Patil and Kishore's mission transcends business goals; it is a heartfelt dedication to cultural revival and sustainable livelihoods.

SheThePeople spoke to the Lambani women and the entrepreneurs of Banjara Kasuti, who highlighted the transformative power of cultural preservation, not just on the tribal community but also on society as a whole. They delved into their journeys and described how they have impacted each other's lives, personifying sisterhood and collective empowerment.

Reviving Lambani Art

The Lambanis, also known as Banjaras and Lambadis, are nomadic tribals originally from Rajasthan, mostly settled in Karnataka, while some found a place in other States like Telangana, Maharashtra and Goa. Known for their distinct culture, language, and lifestyle, the Lambani women can be seen decked in vivid embellished garments and bundles of jewellery.

Born and raised in Vijayapura (Bijapur) Asha Patil's connection with the community ran deep in her identity. She regularly visited Lambani settlements, known as tandas, to soak in the experience of their heritage arts. However, like most cultural expressions, she saw the Lambani's outstanding artistic skills struggle to find a place in modern times.

In 2017, she founded the non-profit organisation Banjara Kasuti with her friend Seema Kishore. They passionately worked towards reviving the Lambani artisans by fusing their craft into new-age fashion. The duo shared, "We aim to not only revive the endangered art form but also focus on stable financial support, access to banking literacy, healthcare, and education."

Artists Reclaim Their Lives

Lambani artist Lalita Jadhav expressed the struggles that women from the community had been enduring in modern society. "We worked as agricultural or construction labourers, working long hours away from our houses and families for months at a time," the 38-year-old said. She added that the long commutes and excessive work also had adverse impacts on their health.

Jadhav further shared, "Mrs Patil had been a regular visitor of the Banjara settlements. During one of her visits, she highlighted the importance of preserving our art form and how her organisation aims to revitalise our  community’s traditions, along with the opportunity to earn a stable income. Having spoken to her on several occasions, we realised the opportunity would not only enable us to contribute to our family income but also revive an art form we have known and adorned for centuries."

The artist said that not only have Patil and Kishore's efforts given space to the community's once diminishing craftsmanship but also contributed to improving their economic and health condition. Moreover, the philanthropist duo has also sparked an interest in the younger generations of the Lambani community to embrace and take forward their heritage. 

Touching upon their upskilling programs, Patil stated, "We have supported the women to develop a few of the forgotten traditional stitches and provided proper training to perfect their art form. We incorporate sustainable materials including eco-friendly clothes and vibrant threads to the handmade items, to further appeal to the urban community."

Tradition Meets Modernity

Patil and Kishore's vision is to not only see the Lambani women thrive within their community but to also integrate their skills, traditions, and culture into contemporary society. Patil said, "The delicate balance comes with the combination of tradition with a touch of modernity." Despite the contemporary flair, the original beauty of the Lambani art is resplendent.

The entrepreneur duo aims to foster a deep understanding of the Lambani community by also taking the other aspects of their culture to the forefront. "We must respect the ethics and authenticity of the Lambani culture. To safeguard their tradition, we participate in their traditional festivals and celebrations," they said.

Sharing their experience of working with the grassroots community, Patil expressed, "Connecting with the Lambani community, particularly with the women, has been an enriching experience. They introduced us to their history and how their art form evolved, along with the cultural significance of the use of vibrant colours and mirrors in their attires. We realised the urgency to not only revive traditional arts but also the need to support and encourage local artisans."