Anant National University, India’s first Design university, hosted Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, at the university campus in Ahmedabad on 27th May 2023, where he inaugurated an exhibition on crafts created as part of ANUSHILP, a collaboration between Anant National University and the USIN Foundation. He also delivered a lecture on Modi’s India: A Rising Power.
Anant National University organized his visit to give an overview of ANUSHILP, a project initiated to empower the artisans of the Narmada district through a synthesis of traditional practices, design thinking and technology. Upon the recommendation of Dr S. Jaishankar, the project was awarded to AnantU. The two-year project, planned to be executed in three phases, with the Artisans’ Residency Program at its core, aims to help artisans improve their livelihood through sustainable craft practices. Dr Jaishankar also interacted with the artists in residence and discussed the progress and future potential of the ANUSHILP project.
Dr Jaishankar’s lecture highlighted India’s significant achievements in the sector of foreign policy and governance conceived under the visionary leadership of honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Dr Jaishankar also shed light on the flagship schemes implemented by the Indian government that established India’s position as the leading nation on the global platform. He also conducted an interactive session with the students and took a comprehensive tour of our state-of-the-art facilities, thereby witnessing first-hand the cutting-edge technologies, pioneering research, and development efforts underway at the university.