Roots and Wings: Stories from our Alumna
The Department of Political Science, Loreto College, in collaboration with the Political Science Society, successfully organized its annual alumnae interaction session titled "Roots and Wings: Stories from our Alumna" on 10th May 2025. Held in a virtual format via Google Meet, the session witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 98 attendees, including students across all three academic years and four faculty members from the department.
The event featured Ms. Sanra Shaw, alumna of the department and currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Women Weave Charitable Trust and the REHWA Society, as the distinguished speaker. Her address provided valuable insights into India's developmental sector, with a specific focus on the preservation and promotion of traditional weaving arts and the empowerment of women artisans. She has recently delivered her first talk in Tedx Programme.
Ms. Shaw, who completed her undergraduate studies at Loreto College followed by Postgraduation in international Relations from Pondicherry University, recounted her journey from academia to the rural heartlands of India. Working under different fellowship and choosing to opt out from Doctoral admission, her professional work began as a Program Coordinator for The Handloom School under Women Weave Charitable Trust, where she dedicated herself to training unskilled women and young weavers, thereby creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.
In her talk, she emphasized the challenges faced by rural women engaged in handloom weaving—poverty, limited education, healthcare concerns, and the existential threat posed by mechanized textile industries. She elaborated on the mission of the REHWA Society, which is devoted to preserving the traditional Maheshwari weaving of Maheshwar. This includes promoting authentic craftsmanship, training grassroots-level women to produce high-quality sarees, and ensuring their welfare through provisions for housing, healthcare, and education.
Ms. Shaw further addressed the structural challenges posed by industrialization and capitalism, which often marginalize the contributions of women artisans. However, she highlighted how organizations like Women Weave and REHWA are working towards creating equitable frameworks to support these communities, encouraging the formation of collectives such as Kala Sutr, a brand led by the artisans themselves.
During the interactive question-and-answer session, Ms. Shaw provided guidance on applying for fellowships and clarified the internal hierarchies and skill enhancement programs within the development sector. She candidly shared her personal challenges, such as cultural adjustments and the need to acquire technical knowledge despite her humanities background. She also gave students a realistic view of career progression and remuneration structures in the non-governmental sector.
The session concluded with the formal vote of thanks. The talk was immensely enriching and inspirational, offering students a deeper understanding of the opportunities and demands of working in the developmental sector, especially in grassroots empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
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