my masters thesis: An insight into the Knowledge Exchange in Indian Craft Communities
My research examines the craft communities in India from a social constructionist perspective with the aim to document and analyse how knowledge exchange takes place in these communities. Using data from interviews and observation in three craft communities and one craft development organisation,all in and around the city of Bhuj in Gujarat, I analysed the craft community structures. An understanding of the relationships between the different bodies that form the communities provided the base for mapping the knowledge exchange networks for each community using social network analysis, and illustrating the peripheral factors and issues that affect the knowledge transfer.
This examination of the current scenario of the Indian crafts industry brought a trend to light - migration of the craftspeople from their crafts, reflecting the growing impoverishment of artisans and unsustainability of their craft. This led to a further exploration and understanding of the ecosystem that craftspeople are part of, proposing the need for a paradigm shift in the outlook and perception of crafts, in the context of a new information-based economy, where creativity, innovation and knowledge play a major role.
Below is the link to the full thesis:
http://issuu.com/maulshreesinha/docs/threads_of_knowledge_maulshree