Jaya Jaitly, former Samata Party President, may have had her share of scandal and controversy in the past, but in politics, that’s a professional hazard. What has still kept her in the public eye is her work towards the welfare of Indian artisans. Better known as cricketer Ajay Jadeja’s mother-in-law and for the infamous press conference in 2000 where she lashed out at a couple of ministers from the then NDA for an income tax raid that happened at her house, Jaitly is now treading on happier turf.

In Mumbai for the annual Dastkari Haat Samiti exhibition, Handmade Design ’09, it’s the handicraft future of India that tops her priority list. “In the last few years, the response to the exhibition has been tremendous. Most artisans are now adept with Internet and e-mail which has helped them make a healthy progress in the times of globalisation,” says Jaitly, adding, “For me it is the mix of pride and aesthesis that makes

this special.”

The exhibition, which begins today at the Coomaraswamy Hall, Prince of Wales Museum, will go on till October 14 and will have as many as 35 craftsmen from around the country participating in here. It’s in its 23rd year, but a lot has changed, feels Jaitly, associated with the committee for the last 45 years. “At one point we thought we were finished with lots of moneyed people opting for brands rather than the true heritage of the country. But over the years I have realised that whenever you have something different to offer people will always come and buy it. The contemporary but ethnic products that the artisans design also make for brilliant gifting options and they are ecological friendly.”

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