ARCHITECTS OF CHANGE

SOME CHANGE-MAKERS ARE TAKING THE LEAD IN EMPOWERING OTHER WOMEN IN THE SOCIAL SECTOR IN A BID TO ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY.

- ARNAV DAS SHARMA

When you enter Said-ul-Ajaib, an urban village tucked away in Delhi’s Saket, nothing immediately sets it apart. The roads are pockmarked, drainage water seeps onto the crowded lanes, and hawkers jostle for space amid half-shuttered shops escaping the growing brutality of a late March sun. Yet, a few hundred yards in, history asserts itself—a Tughlaq-era monument stands unannounced, and directions to a Sufi saint’s dargah point to the medieval and the modern coexisting in quiet harmony.

Sometime in March, I navigated these narrow lanes, searching for Rangsutra’s office. At first glance, it appeared to be like any other bou-tique amid the urban sprawl. But stepping inside, the world shifted—Delhi's noise faded, like smoke in the air, replaced by the hum of a quiet revolution in the making.

Founded in 2005 by Sumita Ghose, Rangsutra is not just a craft enterprise; it is a social movement driven by the belief that capitalism can also be a force for good. Starting as a cooperative of over 1,000 rural artisans—each contributing ₹1,000—Rangsutra has grown into a thriving community-owned company with over 2,000 shareholders and an annual turnover exceeding ₹20 crore, according to data from Grant Thornton Bharat.

Specialising in handcrafted textiles and artisanal products, the company primarily works with women from Rajasthan, equipping them with skills, managerial training, and direct market access. Its partnerships with Fab India, which also owns equity in the company, and Swedish giant IKEA have opened up the world for these female artisans. Yet, at its heart, Rangsutra remains deeply rooted in its local ethos—ensuring that the hands that weave, embroider, and dye are not just earning, but leading.