Hindustan Times (Gurugram) - Hindustan Times (Gurugram) - City
Mapu, you will be missed: Design fraternity remembers the textile pioneer
On the death of Martand Singh, fondly known as Mapu, the design industry pays tribute to the textile master
In a curious coincidence, the night Mapu passed away, the Hall of Nations at Pragati Maidan, where we had spent so many days and nights in 1972, was bulldozed and demolished by Government order. Both Mapu himself and Raj Rewal’s iconic building were an important part of post-independent India’s cultural heritage, now both gone for ever .... Irretrievable except in our memory,” wrote craft revivalist, Laila Tyabji, in a Facebook post which she titled In Memoriam Martand Singh.
Mapu, as he was fondly known, lived a life away from the limelight in his final years, and after two months in a Delhi hospital, he breathed his last at the age of 70, on Tuesday. Remembered for championing the cause of the textile, perhaps, his most iconic work remains Vishvakarma. A landmark pan-India exhibition in the early ’80s Vishwakarma put spotlight on Indian weavers and was a turning point in the history of textiles, helmed by cultural activist Pupul Jaykar, with Mapu, its project director.
“Mapu’s passing is a huge irreplaceable loss — he symbolised class. He was generous with his knowledge, happily shared it with anyone who approached him for any help. I would constantly turn to him for ideas and advice. A pillar of strength, his absence will be felt greatly,” says designer Ritu Beri.
The new generation of designers too remembers Mapu. “I had put two of my textile products at Samskara, Made in India Exhibition at the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, as a student. He spent a lot of time there, encouraging and inspiring me to pursue textiles. And, he is one of the main reasons I continue to do so,” says textile designer Tanira Sethi.
I would constantly turn to him for ideas, advice. A pillar of strength, his absence will be felt greatly. He will be missed! RITU BERI, DESIGNER