Devika and Hemendra have been actively involved in community development programs since 2005, right after completing their MBA in Rural Management. In 2009, they collaborated with the WomenWeave Charitable Trust, working with handloom artisans on a project to train local women in spinning and weaving local cotton in Maheshwar.

 

Hemendra, driven by his interest in entrepreneurship, initiated an entrepreneurship development program for young weavers in Maheshwar. Alongside this, he expanded the weaving and spinning project to areas like Dindori and Balaghat in East Madhya Pradesh.

 

By 2016, the weaving projects became self-sufficient, generating enough income through the sale of woven textiles. Additionally, the young weaver program evolved into THE HANDLOOM SCHOOL, an institutionalized initiative.

 

In 2016, Devika and Hemendra relocated to Bhopal, seeking new challenges. They co-founded the Kala Swaraj Foundation, aiming to establish a self-sustaining organization that could operate independently without grants, focusing on lesser-known handloom weaving clusters.

 

Over time, the success of the organization has validated their belief in the craft sector and the concept of social entrepreneurship. Their journey serves as a testament to the positive impact they have made in promoting and sustaining traditional crafts.