Smarya: Vernacular Furniture of Punjab and Haryana
- Speakers
- Jay Rajesh Thakkar
CEPT University Press invites you to the book launch of ‘Smarya: Vernacular Furniture of Punjab and Haryana’, authored by Mansi S Rao, Ben Cartwright, Jay Thakkar and Abhishek Ruikar.
Date & Time: Wednesday, 11th February @ 5.30 PM
Venue: South Lawns, CEPT University
About the book:
Smarya means ‘the act of remembering’. This book contains the stories of people who make and use crafted furniture, who hold memories and objects from the cherished events in their lives, who lived and lost through the partition, and who build a sense of belonging and community through these memories. In doing so, it pays homage to the people of Punjab and Haryana who make and use vernacular furniture as part of their everyday lives.
About the Authors:
Mansi S Rao is the Collection Curator of the South Asia Collection and the SADACC Trust, with research interests in linking museum objects to their socio-cultural contexts within source communities.
Dr. Ben Cartwright is a former curator of the South Asia Collection and the SADACC Trust, whose research focuses on India’s crafts, art history, and vernacular furniture, with a particular interest in memory and oral histories.
Jay Thakkar is a Senior Associate Professor and Head of Exhibitions at CEPT University, and the founder of DICRC. His work focuses on India’s crafts, vernacular furniture, and indigenous architecture, alongside creative education and research in the craft sector.
Abhishek Ruikar is an architect-turned product designer based in Bengaluru who leads a design studio creating toys, puzzles, and furniture, and has contributed extensively to field research and documentation at DICRC.
