Jaipur, January 30 : Rahiman Paani Rakhiye, Bin Paani sab Sone, Pani gaye na ubare, Moti Manush Choor (Rahim says, water is most important. As without water, there is no wealth(pearls) , life or earth.)
From being one of the most sophisticated water management systems, to one which is constantly dependent on external sources, the water systems of Jaipur are in urgent need of restoration. With an endeavour to shed light on one of the most sophisticated water management systems of India, the stepwells, acclaimed journalist and author Victoria Lautman addressed the audience on ‘Stepwells Of India’ at AnanTaya in Narain Niwas Hotel .
Speaking on the occasion, Victoria Lautman said that tourists have been thronging India’s temples, palaces, forts and mosques, but the country’s ancient stepwells are largely unknown. These remarkable subterranean structures not only provided communities with water all year long but also served as civic centres, refuges, remote oases and, in many cases, active places of worship. But besides their many functions, stepwells were marvels of engineering, architecture, and art. Some were lavish and ornate.
However, in present days, they need urgent attention to bounce back, she added. Lautman has been a print and broadcast journalist for over twenty-five years, specializing in arts and culture and has hosted many radio programs too in Chicago. She has recently launched her book, ‘The Vanishing Stepwells of India’.
She shared her perspectives on the architecture and history of India’s ancient stepwells and their integral role in groundwater conservation ecosystems.The address was followed by an interesting conversation between Aayush Kasliwal and Lautman. Question and sessions between audience and Lautman came up later which kept the audience hooked till the last moment.
According to Geetanjali Kasliwal, Managing Director, AnanTaya, “Anantaya believes that our collective future depends upon how we address the issue of water. Perhaps we can look into the past, and learn from it . Rahiman Pani Raakhiye is one such initiative where we discuss the various aspects around water”.
Introduction of Geetanjali Kasliwal
Geetanjali Kasliwal is the co-founder and director of AnanTaya, an interdisciplinary lifestyle design store based in Jaipur, India reaching clients around the world. Concentrating on luxury design based in traditional craft practices,her business promotes green living, social responsibility and sustainable development through the creation and marketing of innovative high-end lifestyle products. AnanTaya launched a new store on Bangalore in 2014 and AnanTaya,USA in 2015 and celebrated 10 years in 2016 by moving to a large new showroom at the NarainNiwas Palace Hotel.
Geetanjali has been a key note speaker at the World Craft Council Exhibit at Bikaner House, N.Delhi in 2016, at the FICCI Women’s Wing of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and at the 2015 National Craft Seminar: “Karigari: Crafting the Future” in Gujarat, Panelist on Design Carnival2015 by Pearl Academy, Jaipur. She has been a jury member in various design colleges and institutes like NASA Convention 2017 (National Association of Students of Architecture), Arch Academy of Design, Jaipur etc. She integrates sound business practice, humanism and life balance, encouraging the next generation of designers and artisans to join her journey. A graduate architect from TVB School of Habitat Studies, New Delhi, in 2013 Geetanjali completed a post-graduate course in management from ISB Goldman Sachs BIMTECH for 10,000 women entrepreneurs. A diversely talented artist, Geetanjali is a Visharad Hindustani singer, who received accolades at the National competition in light vocal music by Sangam Kala Group. The mother of three girls, she promotes the empowerment of women putting this belief to work at AnanTaya from products to personnel. Geetanjali combines her skills and fair trade practices in an organization committed to education, professional development and improving lives. To further this mission she has been conducting MELA community craft workshops for children in partnership with the Jaipur Virasat Foundation and AnanTaya.
In 2013, she co-founded and has been organizing India’s first annual festival based on sustainability ‘MaahiRoj: Earth Day Everyday’ . Maahi Roj Festival has become a Jaipur icon of the Design and Craft Scenario based on sustainable practices for the earth, where one gets hands-on experience and opportunities to develop, meet and interact with awarded designers, master artisans, and stakeholders. Geetanjali Kasliwal is the co-founder of The Big Bin Project; an initiative based on community action towards managing Waste in a sustainable manner & Community Buiding. As a consummate collaborator, Geetanjali Kasliwal has brought her design sensibility, organizational skills and modern approach to the craft sector of the Indian economy, assisting in reorganizing the non-formal sector and improving the livelihood and identity of the artisans. She aspires to be an agent of change with an eye on the future, deeply rooted to her distinctive past. Her philosophy is that “Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward new possibilities.”
Geetanjali Kasliwal was awarded Women Of Future 2016 by FICCI Flo, Tamanna Udaan Ki Women Entrepreneur 2015. She has been nominated for numerous awards including FORHEX Women Entrepreneur, 2011 and HOP(High on Passion) Style Icon Of India- Handicraft 2013. Geetanjali Kasliwal’s professional affiliations include FORHEX (Federation of Rajasthan Handicraft Exporters), IIID (Indian Institute of Interior Designers), FICCI(Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce) FLO(Women’s Wing), IIA (Indian Institute of Architects), Jaipur Heritage Round Table, Women Mentor’s Forum Jaipur and COWE (Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs). Geetanjali has held the post of Secretary and Treasurer consecutively of FICCI, FLO Jaipur, 2011, 2012, is the charter core committee member of Jaipur Women Mentor’s Forum, State committee Head for Crafts and Design in ALL (All Ladies League), and is an Executive member of FORHEX since 2012.
Her enterprise AnanTaya has won awards including the UNESCO Seal of Excellence for 2016 for Kalam Table and Shiva Jug and in 2007 and 2008, Interior Lifestyle Award 2015-Messe Frankfurt, Finalist of CII Design Excellence Awards 2015, and been named by WGSN (World Global Style Network) – Europe’s Trendsetting Agency, as one of the ten‘must visit’ shopping places in the world. AnanTaya appears in the itinerary of the New York Times travel book: ‘36 Hours in Asia and Oceania’. Press coverage includes The New York Times, Financial Times, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Wallpaper and Condé Nast. AnanTaya products have been featured by leading design stores including The Conran Shop, Anthropologie, William Sonoma and Crate and Barrel, Ecru in Kuwait, Paris, Tokyo, Lebanon and New York. Indian clients include the TajKhazana Stores, Le Mill, Tranceforme, Mulberry, Amethyst, and Crafts Council of India amongst others. Private patrons include celebrity Architects, Designers, Bollywood personalities like Amitabh Bachchan. AnanTaya products are an important part of many corporate and private collections worldwide. Their project work decorates the VIP lounges of the T3 Delhi International Airport and Food Kiosks in the Mumbai International Airport.
Geetanjali Kasliwal in collaboration with her husband, designer, Ayush Kasliwal provide a sustainable livelihood to 4000 artisans and their communities. These connections increase with each new venture. Their vision is to positively impact the lives of a million artisans.
Geetanjali Kasliwal is the Managing Director of ANANTAYA. A graduate architect from TVB School of Habitat Studies, New Delhi, Geetanjali completed a post-graduate course in management for women entrepreneurs from ISB Goldman Sachs BIMTECH in 2013. She was awarded Women Of Future 2016 by FICCI Flo, Tamanna Udaan Ki Women Entrepreneur 2015. . Her enterprise AnanTaya has won awards including the UNESCO Seal of Excellence for 2016 for Kalam Table and Shiva Jug and in 2007 and 2008, Interior Lifestyle Award 2015-Messe Frankfurt, Finalist of CII Design Excellence Awards 2015, and been named by WGSN (World Global Style Network) – Europe’s Trendsetting Agency, as one of the ten‘must visit’ shopping places in the world. AnanTaya appears in the itinerary of the New York Times travel book: ‘36 Hours in Asia and Oceania’. She has conceptualised and organised the festival ‘Maahi Roj: Earth Day Everyday’ based on sustainable practices for the earth, annually since 2013.
Geetanjali Kasliwal is the co-founder of The Big Bin Project; a community based composting and recycling project with a mission to see a cleaner healthier better surrounding in the city and country, with a team of concerned citizens. A mother of three girls, she actively promotes women’s empowerment and social responsibility while mentoring the next generationAs a consummate collaborator, Geetanjali Kasliwal has brought her design sensibility, organisation skills and modern approach to the craft sector of the Indian economy, assisting in reorganising the non-formal sector and improving the livelihood and identity of the artisans through an integrated retail organisation providing sustainable futures for Indian artisans and their communities. Her core belief is to ‘Be an agent of change with an eye on future while deeply rooted in her distinctive past’.
Ayush Kasliwal – Short Bio
Ayush Kasliwal, an alumnus of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, is one of India’s leading design thinkers, practitioners and advocates for artisans. Ayush with his architect wife Geetanjali, is Creative Director and Co founder of AKFD & AnanTaya, interdisciplinary design companies based in Jaipur, India. All aspects of the business practices of AKFD and AnanTaya reflect social consciousness, sustainability. Ayush’s work is informed by traditional crafts and artisans and it reflects a deep understanding of mythology, architecture and culture through a contemporary aesthetic. He believes that “Objects are messages in physical form”.
Ayush’s design versatility is expressed in the extensive projects undertaken, including the VIP lounges and the ‘Mudra’ installation at the T3 Delhi International Airport, New Delhi, Kiosks at theT2 international Terminal, Mumbai,’ Handmade in Rajasthan’ Logo for the Government of Rajasthan launched at the 2016 Rajasthan Heritage Week, Pink City E-Rickshaw Design to empower women drivers of Rajasthan, Retail spaces, Restaurants & prestigious Hospitality projects like Narendra Bhawan, Bikaner.
Winner of multiple National and International awards, like UNESCO, EDIDA, Ayush has been a panelist, speaker, faculty, jury member, at prestigious national and international forums including ICFF at New York.
His work has been featured worldwide on different media like BBC Arts Hour 2016, New York Times, Financial Times, Condenast Traveller, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Wallpaper , Architectural Digest amongst others.
Through inclusive business practices, he redefines ancient local craft traditions and artisan communities by providing design, technology, capital, and creative collaboration. He works in multiple ways, from small batch manufacturing, to artisan driven orders finished at his factory, to interiors and large scale on-site installations throughout India.
Ayush Kasliwal in collaboration with his wife, entrepreneur and architect, Geetanjali Kasliwal provide a sustainable livelihood to 4000 artisans and their communities. These connections increase with each new venture. Their vision is to improve the lives of a million artisans
