But by the mid-20th century, the craft had all but died out.In 1988, a non-profit organisation called Adithi decided to breathe new life into the traditional art as a way of giving rural women a source ofincome. They have been selling their designs with detailed patterns and brilliantly colored threads to boutiques in India's major cities.The women, who transcended various social castes to work together, have transformed the quilts into more than just their livelihood.`Stopping the spread of aids' depicts village women arming their husbands who are headed to the town brothels with condoms. One quilt chronicles the life of Phoolan Devi, India's legendary Bandit Queen who was accused of massacring 20 villagers after being held prisoner and repeatedly raped by men of a higher caste. The quilt captures this traumatic experience in pieces where Phoolan is shown naked.

But it also exults in her comeback after serving time in jail, she won a seat in the Indian Parliament. A helicopter symbolises her success.The exhibition is at the national museum of women in the arts until May 9. It later travels to California, and the Paine art center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.