Lalita Vakil is an Indian embroidery artist known for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of Chamba Rumal, a traditional form of handkerchief embroidery from Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh.
Lalita Vakil | |
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Lalita Vakil receiving Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind | |
Born | |
Known for | Chamba Rumal embroidery |
Awards | Padma Shri (2022) Nari Shakti Puraskar (2018) |
Vakil has been awarded Padma Shri in 2022 by the Government of India for her contributions in the field of arts.[1] She was also awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2018.[2]
Vakil was married at the age of fifteen. It was her father-in-law who recognized her talent in creating designs for Chamba Rumal. He motivated her further to train local girls and women in this craft.[3]
Since the past fifty years, Vakil has been working for the promotion and preservation of Chamba Rumal.[4] She has traveled extensively in India and abroad to exhibit her works and conduct workshops for this form of traditional embroidery.[2]
Vakil has often experimented with the designs of the Chamba Rumal. She was the first woman to introduce silk in the embroidery to create larger pieces of the handkerchief.[3] Moreover, she has also developed designs for saris, shawls, dupattas and stoles along with creation of multi-panel sets.[5]