Can AI Help Preserve India's Traditional Crafts? IIT Kharagpur Launches SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN 2026

IIT Kharagpur's SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN 2026: The Possibilities AI and Research Offer India’s Stone Crafts

West Bengal : The crafts of India are repositories of knowledge amassed over centuries. Preserving them is more than just preserving antiquated techniques. Connecting artisan know-how and traditional skills with contemporary research, design, and technology could foster a new renaissance for India’s handicraft sector. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur is taking this forward with the fourth Toolkit Workshop of SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN focused on India’s stone-based crafts.

The workshop will be held between November 12 and November 20, 2026 at the Centre of Excellence for Unified AI-Enabled Craft Ecosystem Platform of IIT Kharagpur. It aims to integrate India’s traditional crafts with contemporary research and innovation bolstered by artificial intelligence with the intent to foster opportunities for India’s artisanal and crafts communities. The workshop will also be host to an exhibition showcasing India’s traditional stone crafts from November 17 to November 19, 2026.

SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN 2026: Workshop Details

The fourth Toolkit Workshop will explore stone-based crafts, highlighting an important aspect of India’s traditional handicrafts. Below are the details of the workshop:

Why is IIT Kharagpur Bringing AI and Traditional Craftsmanship Together?

Traditional Craftsmanship embodies a body of knowledge about crafts material and tools, techniques and forms of artistic expression. This knowledge is gained through an apprenticeship and handed down from craftsperson to craftsperson. However, preserving such knowledge while making it appropriate to the requirements of contemporary markets necessitates innovative approaches to research, documentation and product development. The AI-enabled craft ecosystem initiative is relevant in this regard.

SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN at IIT Kharagpur, aims to bridge traditional craft knowledge and technological research. The initiative takes a broader view to study the potential of digital and AI tools to evaluate and document knowledge related to the craft processes and facilitate innovation in India’s craft ecosystem.  The Center of Excellence has previously organized Toolkit workshops to cover other craft traditions in its initial and subsequent workshops. The objective of the first workshop was to identify craft processes and tools, document them and facilitate collaboration among artisans, researchers and design experts. The fourth workshop aims to accomplish the same for the craft processes and tools involved in stone-based crafts.

Stone Based Craft Traditions Take Centre Stage

Stone craftsmanship reflects the understanding of the material, control over the tools, and the imagination of the artisan. The skill and knowledge of working with stone is keen understanding of the physical characteristics and properties of various stones, tools, methods of shaping and techniques of finishing. The workshop centers on stone-based traditions. This offers an opportunity to study them through the lenses of both traditional and modern knowledge systems

The workshop integrates craft heritage into research and development of institutions of higher learning to promote analysis of interdisciplinary and integrative approaches towards leaps in technology, augmentation and renewal of skills and crafts, and sustainable livelihoods. The workshop aims to promote synergy and interdisciplinary approaches between the fields of traditional craftsmanship and modern technologies.

In the realm of craftsmanship, numerous opportunities exist for artisans to adopt modern techniques, tools and equipment. For technologists, numerous opportunities exist to apply their knowledge and skills in modern tools to adopt and adopt old traditions and practices.

Craft Exhibition at IIT Kharagpur

Alongside the workshop, IIT Kharagpur will host a craft exhibition from 17-19 November, 2026. The exhibition will take place at the foyer of Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship (RMSEE), IIT Kharagpur.

The exhibition will showcase the artistry, creativity and cultural importance of India's traditional stone crafts. It will also serve the purpose of presenting some of the traditional crafts explored during the workshop. The exhibition will provide an opportunity to the visitors to appreciate India's Artisanal heritage and craftsmanship.

FAQs

Q1. What is SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN 2026 at IIT Kharagpur?

SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN 2026 is the fourth workshop to develop a toolkit at IIT Kharagpur to integrate the traditional craftsmanship of stone with research and innovation through artificial intelligence (AI).

Q2. When will SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN 2026 be held?

The workshop will be held between November 12 and November 20, 2026.

Q3. What is the theme of the fourth toolkit workshop at IIT Kharagpur?

The theme of the fourth workshop is Stone-Based Craft Traditions to integrate traditional artisan knowledge with contemporary research and technology.

Q4. Where will SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN 2026 be conducted?

The workshop will be held at the Agri-Business Incubation Foundation (ABIF Building), IIT Kharagpur.

Q5. When will the craft exhibition be held?

The craft exhibition will be held from November 17 to November 19, 2026.

Q6. Where will the craft exhibition be held?

The exhibition will be held in the foyer of the Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship, IIT Kharagpur.

Q7. Which organization is associated with SHRISTI O ANUSANDHAN 2026?

The initiative is undertaken by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

Q8. What is the objective of the AI-enabled craft ecosystem initiative?

The objective of the initiative is to integrate traditional crafts with research, AI and other advanced technology for craft documentation and innovation for crafts, to foster crafts skills and livelihood.

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