Karusangha: The Living Legacy of Art and Craft at Santiniketan
Moumita Biswas
State Aided College Teacher, Department of History
Naba Barrackpur Prafulla Chandra Mahavidyalaya
Research scholar in Sona Devi University, Ghatsila
mou.biswas90@gmail.com
Submitted on: 11.11.2025
Accepted on: 25.12.2025
Abstract: The concept of Karusangha, meaning association of artisans, embodies the enduring spirit of collective creativity and craftsmanship that has shaped South Asia’s socio-cultural identity across generations. It emerged in the 20th century as a significant socio-economic and cultural movement aimed at empowering craftsmen in Bengal. It sought to revive and sustain indigenous crafts while promoting economic independence through collective production, fair trade practices, and community-based welfare. It united artisans under a common platform to promote self-reliance, equitable labor relations and the preservation of indigenous knowledge systems. The Karusangha model not only empowered marginalised craft communities through cooperative production and shared ownership but also redefined the relationship between art, labor and community. In the post-independence period, its ideals found resonance within state-led handcraft cooperatives and rural development programmes, though bureaucratic intervention and market pressures often diluted its participatory ethos. Nevertheless, the Karusangha continues to serve as a living legacy- bridging tradition and innovation in the contemporary craft economy. By examining Karusangha as both a historical phenomenon and a living institution, this article explores how collective artistry operates as a mode of cultural resilience and economic empowerment, reaffirming the centrality of craftsmanship in shaping identity and sustainable development in the modern era.
Key Words: Indigenous, Craft practice, Collective authorship, creative practice, community, handcraft, sustain livelihood