Online edition of Sunday Observer

Siva being awarded Kamala Sammaan award by Governor of Karnataka T.N. Chaturvedi at the birth ceremony celebrations of Kamaladevi at Chitra Kala Parishat in Bangalore in April of this year.

Sivagamie Verina Obeysekara, well known as Siva Obeysekara, founder of Laksala was garlanded with Kamala Sammaan award by the Crafts Council of India in April this year for her research work and dedicated contribution to the field of art and crafts.

The award was given to five artisans including Siva in memory of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, reviver of Indian traditional crafts and a freedom fighter. The other four award winners were from India. Siva was the only foreigner among these honoured at the occasion. She received the award from Governor of Karnataka T. N. Chaturvedi at the birth cenetary celebrations of Kamaladevi at Chitra Kala Parishat in Bangalore.

Still active highly in her community work day and night, Siva spoke of her good old days for the Sunday Observer readers.

"Social service has been something in my blood veins since I was a school girl at Ladies College," she said adding "After getting married to J. P. Obeysekara in 1948 I got wider horizons to serve people". J. P. Obeysekara became the Deputy Minister of Health, and then the Deputy Minister of Finance.

After her husband's retirement from politics, she launched in to politics. She contested twice. Breaking several records, she won the Meerigama seat from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in 1965 from the opposition and in 1970 from the government. She held the posts of Deputy Minister and then the Minister of Health making her name in history.

"I saw the poverty of people as well as their talent and skill which can be used to overcome it if recognised and guided properly. Since I wanted to get a clear picture of what I was going to do, I went to India and met Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay who was in the process of reviving Indian crafts at that time," said Siva.

Following in Kamaladevi's footsteps Siva worked hard continuously to revive the crafts and handlooms of Sri Lanka. Equivalent to Indian Cottage Industries Emporium originated by Kamaladevi, Siva set up Laksala in 1964 in Sri Lanka.

While being its founder Chairperson, Siva promoted branches of Laksala throughout the country, which not only opened the doors for a craft revival, but assisted in preserving the craft traditions of Sri Lanka and boosted the income of the poor craftsmen and their families in the villages.Siva was the Chairperson of the National Crafts Council for several years. She organised the Sri Lanka Craftsmen's Association (SLCA) in 1964 and was its President for many years.

Lakpahana was the craft outlet she established to promote quality handicrafts of the members. "It was the golden era for the handloom industry of Sri Lanka," she recollected. "The looms are still inside the sealed buildings all over the country. It's a 'shame and sad' situation that nobody is thinking of re-starting the dead industry. It's a heritage of this country which would provide many job opportunities at village level," she lamented.

Siva was the first person from a developing country to be the President of World Crafts Council from 1992 to 1996. She was also President of World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Region from 1996 to 2000. She was also the first woman to be awarded the National Honour of 'Deshamanya' by late President R. Premadasa.

Siva Obeysekara had a full life that an Asian woman would rarely get. Aging has never been a problem to her. Still active and energetic she holds many posts in several educational and service organisations. Siva is at present a member of the National Advisory Council for the Ministry of Health.

"My next dream is to open a museum of traditional handicrafts and handloom textiles which I have been collecting as samples for years and years. They will definitely be the part of the history of Sri Lanka," she said.