'My Heart Beats to Make Meaningful Connections,' says Communications Partner for The Shilp Route- Srobona Das

  The real essence of life lies in how quickly the heart can make a connection with another. Bringing the depth and meaning to this truth, Srobona Das- a Super Mum, Communication Expert, Home Chef, Social Media Maverick, Adoption Advocate, and so much more has taken on spearheading a unique project to uplift the artisanal integrity of the country. Shop from the finest collections- Shilp Route BV: Tell us a little about yourself? Srobona: I have been in the realm of PR, communications, training, and advertising for over 20 years. The core reason my heart beats make is to make and bring about meaningful connections and make a difference in the world, currently through the digital media platform. I am a social impact volunteer and have been a business development lead. My food business, TinniGinni, is an extension of me. It is a culmination of everything Srobona! I have been involved with groups and communities online, like Super Mums of India, Caremongers India, and co-founded the 'For & Of HeartBabies' which has over 3000 organic followers; all this keeps the spark of communication alive inside me. Srobona Das- Communication Expert, Shilp Route BV: Now, tell us about the beautiful Shilp Route! Srobona: Gladly! The pandemic has been tough on all of us, especially the craftsmen and artisans of our country. They're dripping with generational talent but lack the digital avenue to share their innate gifts with the world. The Shilp Route by Titan CSR, in association with Social Venture Partners and powered by GoCoop is an initiative to empower the Indian Artisan Community by connecting consumers to the artisans directly through an authentic and relevant online engagement platform. The online exhibition will showcase home décor products of 15 handpicked craftsmen/artisans from across the country. The Shilp Route online exhibition went live in October's festive season from the 31st on www.gocoop.com and continues till November 30, 2020. Cushion Covers from Woven Threads BV: What is your role in uplifting The Shilp Route? Srobona: I am the Communications and Social Media Partner for The Shilp Route Initiative. In association with 4 talented consultants, all experts in their walks of life, TinniGinni came together to conceptualize and promote this beautiful initiative. My job is to tell people about two things. One- Despite being restricted to our homes we are fortunate, while others with talent do not have access to the marketplace. The other is that home improvement has gained importance because of the post-pandemic conditions. The Shilp Route is an opportunity to empower our artisans and give them access to the digital market. online exhibition will showcase home décor products of 15 handpicked craftsmen/artisans from across the country BV: Tell us something about the Artisans that have come together? Srobona: A team of two designers and artisan curators have curated the collection. The Home décor products are curated from an extraordinary Artisanal Bank ranging from living spaces to bedroom spaces, table décor, and gifts from various parts of the country. They have been granted access to the digital e-commerce platform with sales information on their products via The Shilp Route. Here's is one of the artisans, Shokat, who comes from a family lineage of Ajrakh Block Printing. https://youtu.be/yLwDgovWSls Ajrak Products BV: What is the sentiment behind this rather unique initiative? Srobona: Every person involved with this project is driven by passion- there are 100's of handicraft evangelists behind the scenes who have tremendous love and deep respect for Indian Arts & Crafts, all wanting to make a difference. I'd say that's a magical combination for the success of any venture. Shilp Route Products BV: Will there be a Shilp Route 2.0? Srobona: We are hoping for this to be an ongoing exhibition so that we can give many more artisans an opportunity to be a part of it. With the right support and reach, hopefully, there will be. *fingers crossed*   BV: Your passion for this movement is palpable. What is your take on 'Make in India'? Srobona: Make in India will become an ongoing reality when the consumer need is understood, not just through hashtags or tokenism. In advertising and consumerism, targeting consumer needs is more important than focusing on consumer wants if you want to make a lasting impact. There is a concerted effort towards the upliftment of Indian Arts & Crafts across the world. People are embracing this beautiful movement in their lives and homes, and it will gather momentum through more initiatives like The Shilp Route. Mohan Prajapati- National Awardee Painter BV: We're excited to shop from this curated selection; how do we shop from the online exhibition? Srobona: Hop on to https://gocoop.com/pages/the-shilp-route, and you'll be hooked! I'm sure of it! For more such updates, follow us on Facebook and  Instagram. Download our magazine Spunky Indian for exclusive stories.