The Crafts Council of Telangana (CCT) presented Samir Somaiya with the Lifetime Achievement Award at Sanmaan 2025 in recognition of his impactful efforts to empower traditional artisans of Kutch through Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV). The CCT also acknowledged his exemplary work in education, rural empowerment, healthcare, and sustainability.
Under the visionary leadership of Chairman Samir Somaiya, Somaiya Kala Vidya has made remarkable strides since its inception in 2014. The educational institute imparts design and business education to Kutch artisans and prepares them for the modern world. Many SKV alumni have become entrepreneurs and landed incredible opportunities to showcase their talent at the national and international levels.
A notable highlight is the global feat of Pachan Premji Siju, an alumni of SKV’s design program. A weaving master, he represented his craft collection at the International Folk Art Market 2023 (IFAM) in Santa Fe, Mexico, garnering nearly 14 lakhs through sales. In other news, 25 design graduates from the 2024 batch generated a revenue of 24 lakhs through their exhibition in Mumbai. Many SKV students have collaborated with designers and homegrown brands, boosting their visibility and exposure.
The achievements are a testament to SKV’s success in enabling artisans to leverage their traditional craft skills and create contemporary designs for the urban markets. Moreover, the institute’s strong emphasis on business acumen has equipped them with ways to value, market, and sell their products, significantly enhancing their income, socio-cultural status, and overall standard of living.
Samir Somaiya strategised outreach visits in different villages of Kutch, such as Varnora Mota, Chunnadi, Faradi, Kukadsar, Kanderai, and Sangnara, to motivate more artisans to take advantage of SKV’s design and business programs. His pioneering artisan-to-artisan outreach program encourages SKV graduates to take their knowledge beyond Kutch and partner with artisans having less exposure to the urban craft scene. The program gives both groups an equal opportunity to develop modern products, showcase them in exhibitions for sale, and earn a good living. In March 2024, another milestone was reached with the inauguration of a new branch of Somaiya Kala Vidya in Bagalkot, Karnataka.
Somaiya Kala Vidya has undertaken many new initiatives to ensure ongoing engagement with their alumni. The mentorship program allows graduates to assist SKV faculty and eventually venture into teaching to preserve their craft for future generations. The co-design project fosters collaboration between alumni and contemporary designers, encouraging them to share insights, learn from each other, and create together.
Samir Somaiya’s mission to create awareness around the cultural heritage of Kutch and provide exposure to the artisans of the region led to the idea of open studio tours, craft workshops, and textile traditions courses for the general public. The innovative strategy has drawn visitors from Italy, France, Australia, and other parts of the world to learn about Kutch weaving, Ajrakh block printing, batik, embroidery, bandhani and natural dyeing.
In 2024, a decade of efforts paid off when Somaiya Kala Vidya received the M.P. Ranjan Award for contributing to Craft Design Education. Over the years, various SKV alumni and faculty have also won laurels and recognition for their exemplary work.
The transformative contributions by Samir Somaiya extend beyond the salt marsh desert of Kutch. From promoting holistic learning for thousands of students at Somaiya Vidyavihar University in Mumbai to empowering rural communities in Laxmiwadi and Rehti, he has continued his grandfather, K.J. Somaiya’s educational mission. His further inspirational work includes transforming the healthcare landscape with Somaiya Ayurvihar and advocating for sustainable business practices at Godavari Biorefineries. Samir Somaiya has established global benchmarks in education, rural empowerment, healthcare, sustainability, and beyond through his lifetime of work.
