Sankalp – More Than an Exhibition

Today, nine editions down the line, Sankalp can be proud of its family of more than 500 women who have benefited directly or indirectly through its events.

Six years ago, on a rainy October afternoon, three enthusiastic minds sat poring over the possibility of organising an exhibition in Palakkad through which a platform could be provided for women to display and sell their products.

Thus was born Sankalp, which literally translates to ‘determination’ or ‘resolution’ in Sanskrit.

Today, nine editions down the line, Sankalp can be proud of its family of more than 500 women who have benefited directly or indirectly through its events.

The recently concluded Sankalp ‘Crafts ’n Weaves’ Edition 9 at Kochi was an exhibition with much gusto, with 52 stalls and the active participation of more than 70 women.

It was sheer energy as young, enthusiastic women joined hands to create a beautiful space filled not just with colourful garments, jewellery, lifestyle accessories, gift items, greenery and homemade food, but also with a lot of positive energy, happiness, laughter, mutual trust, understanding and a whole lot of love.

I personally feel this is what Sankalp is all about.

What I look forward to most at these events is the opportunity to meet a whole lot of talented and creative women, which actually humbles me no end.

I have met ladies who manage their households single-handedly while, at the same time, devoting time and energy to their various passions — passions which bring not just emotional satisfaction, but economic independence as well.

As in all the Sankalp events, the recently concluded Kochi exhibition too had beautiful creations ranging from handmade jewellery, designer garments, gift items, art and craft products, hand embroidery and crochet, to food products like cakes, cookies, pickles, jams and condiments. All of these vied with one another to grab the attention of the potential customers who walked in.

The highlight of the event was a selection of products which actually deserve a special mention.

Two very creative and beautiful ladies had brought along a collection of terrariums — plants grown in glass containers that could be kept indoors. Very pretty and captivating, these little bits of greenery were sure to add beauty to any space.

There was also an organisation which worked towards the betterment of women belonging to the coastal areas of Kerala. They helped these women eke out a livelihood by teaching them to make bags and other lifestyle accessories from screw pine and water hyacinth. They found buyers for these products, and the proceeds were passed on to their creators.

Similarly, an enterprising lady made use of her talent for crochet by teaching underprivileged women this craft. She, along with a few like-minded well-wishers, organised them into groups and helped to market and sell their beautiful crocheted creations, thus enabling these women to lead economically independent lives.

Apart from these groups, there were a lot of talented and enterprising women who made the event colourful with their collection of exclusive sarees, salwar kameez, kurtis, stoles, dupattas, etc.

The best part was that, even though there was a wide range of garments, no two stalls had similar products.

The same went for handmade jewellery made from beads, paper, terracotta and metal. Trendy and chic, these could complement just about any outfit.

Home furnishing was another area which saw participation at the Sankalp Kochi event.

Bedsheets and cushion covers are products that are available in just about any commercial outlet. But a few of our talented participants thought differently and came up with designer sheets which were simply awesome.

Appliqué work, hand painting and embroidery adorned these sheets, which could undoubtedly accentuate the beauty of any bedroom.

Sankalp, for me, is a huge learning experience.

Each and every participant of these events is unique in her own way, and contributes to the success of the event in her own special manner. Some are highly skilled in marketing, while some others are very effective communicators.

It is a pleasure to watch these total amateurs interact so proficiently with customers.

Most of these participants enter the venue for the first time unsure and sceptical, but by the end of two days, they are richer not just in terms of sales, but also in heightened confidence levels that lead to a sense of wholesome positivity.

Sankalp does carry a tagline which says ‘Saluting Women Power’, but that doesn’t mean that men have no role to play in this event.

I keep seeing a lot of supportive husbands, fathers, brothers and sons who accompany these women participants and help them achieve their dreams. Our own team consists of a lot of young men who help in organising Sankalp effectively, efficiently and enthusiastically.

And as for me, the best returns I get out of organising the Sankalp exhibitions are undoubtedly the innumerable contacts and friendships that I have made in the course of these events.

Some of these have blossomed into wholesome bonds that I am sure will stand the test of time.