Traditional artisanship and modern entrepreneurship can work together: Rahul Gandhi on his visit to Dharavi

This visit comes after the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls during which the leader of opposition made the slum-cluster a poll issue to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani.

Mumbai: Traditional artisanship and modern entrepreneurship can work together so that skilled artisans get a piece of the success they build with their own hands, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said as he visited the hustling-bustling slum cluster of Dharavi and mingled with artisans and workers.

On a day-long private visit to Mumbai, Gandhi, the Congress MP from Rabareli, spent time with Sudheer Rajbhar of Chamar Studio.

A dalit youth, Rajbhar is an artist by profession, an activist at heart, and a founder with a cause.

“I spoke in the Lok Sabha about how a prosperous India can only be built through “production and participation”. Chamar Studio’s success shows this model works - and I hope we can replicate such a model all over India,” he said.

"Sudheer Rajbhar of Chamar Studio encapsulates the life and journey of lakhs of Dalit youth in India. Extremely talented, brimming with ideas and hungry to succeed but lacking the access and opportunity to connect with the elite in his field,” the Congress leader said.

“However, unlike many others from his community, he got the opportunity to build his own network. He understood the latent skill of the artisans of Dharavi and he created a brand that is recognised in the most esteemed corridors of fashion globally,” he said showering praise on the spirit of Dharavi.

“Chamar Studio’s success highlights how traditional artisanship and modern entrepreneurship can work together so that skilled artisans get a piece of the success they build with their own hands. While working with Sudheer and his team in Dharavi today, I underscored the importance of inclusive production networks that uplift skilled workers across various sectors,” he said.

"I felt it was equally important for Sudheer to share his knowledge and experience with others so we brought our friend Ramchet Mochi from Sultanpur to meet him and understand how design and innovation can transform his business,” said Gandhi.