About Kala Path
Stories that teach the business behind the craft.
A skilled weaver can still lose money on every cloth. Kala Path teaches costing, pricing, bargaining, orders, working together and saving through the life of one weaver, told as an illustrated story the learner helps to decide.
A story, not a lecture
Every chapter is a short film. At the turning point the film stops and the learner chooses what the weaver does. Both paths are worth watching: one of them is usually a mistake worth seeing.
A check, not a test
Three questions close each chapter. A wrong answer gets one more try, and the right answer is always shown and explained. Nothing is scored and nobody fails.
One step at a time
Chapters open in order, each when the one before is finished. Progress is saved on the device, so a learner can stop and carry on whenever they like.
The clusters
Kala Path is told in six handloom and craft clusters, each with its own storyteller and language.
| Cluster | Storyteller | Craft | Languages | Chapters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AssamAssam | Rupali | Gamosa and sador weaving | অসমীয়া | 18 |
| NagalandNagaland | Thejalu | Naga shawl weaving | English | 19 |
| VenkatgiriAndhra Pradesh | Venkataiah | Venkatgiri saree weaving | తెలుగు | 19 |
| ManiabandhaOdisha | Sabitri | Maniabandha ikat | ଓଡ଼ିଆ, English | 19 |
| GopalpurOdisha | Sasmita | Gopalpur tussar silk | ଓଡ଼ିଆ, English | 19 |
| SrikalahastiAndhra Pradesh | Padma | Srikalahasti Kalamkari | తెలుగు, English | 19 |
Part of SUTRA
Kala Path is one of SUTRA’s craft training applications, made by the Department of Design, IIT Guwahati, alongside Kriti for pattern practice and MorXaj for design. The same stories are in the Kala Path app for phones.