Anjana Somany

Founder - Director

Anjana Somany, a History and Political Science graduate from Kolkata University, brings over forty years of research and curatorial experience in history and India’s intangible cultural heritage. She later earned an Honours Diploma in Art History from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

She is the Founder-Director of Mango Tree Tours and Exhibitions, a company engaged in craft, design, and education through curated cultural study tours, workshops for youth, and skill development programmes for the disadvantaged. Its recent initiative, Craft Stories Under the Mango Tree, presents events and exhibitions that celebrate cultural diversity, sustain traditional knowledge, and nurture artistic expression.

An avid researcher, she has presented papers at national and international forums and contributed to craft publications. Her curatorial work is marked by historically researched exhibitions that connect with living traditions and have been showcased internationally. The latest feather in her cap has been three-times Curator Craft Discipline at the prestigious Serendipity Arts Festival held annually in Goa.

As Past National President of FICCI-FLO, she has worked across all levels to promote women’s entrepreneurship. Past President of the Delhi Crafts Council,, she serves on the Advisory Board of Creative Dignity and Somaiya Kala Vidya, a unique design school for artisans. As CSR Head of Somany Ceramics Ltd, she leads initiatives that impact diverse communities through innovative programmes.

A mother of three with significant age gaps between her children, she has grown, evolved, and adapted alongside a changing world. A firm believer that learning is lifelong, Anjana continues to expand her horizons through both experiential and academic pursuits.

Exhibitions Curation and Talks

International exhibitions curated:

• The Indigo Story (Johannesburg, South Africa, 2008)

• Painted Narratives from India: Preserving History through the Art of Story-Telling, (Johannesburg & Durban, South Africa, 2009)

• Earthwise-India section, at Indo-Korean Natural Dyes Symposium, (Chennai, 2009)

• Co-curator Adornment Head to Toe: Indian Tribal Silver Jewellery held at Abhushan: Design Dialogues in Jewelry (New Delhi 2010, a World Crafts Council Meet)

• Seeds, Beads and Silver, at the Africa-India Summit (in Ethiopia, 2011)

• Indigo, in the Arab World, (Kuwait 2012)

• Kerala Sutra: Craft and Design, a craft-based design project with corporate engagement. (New Delhi, 2014)

• Co-curator ‘Chamba Rumal: Life to a Dying Art’- IGNCA (New Delhi, 2015) & Bhau Daji Lad Museum (Mumbai,2016) and Jamdani Tradition and Technique, an introduction to a Historical Textile, Bikaner House, (New Delhi, 2017- an initiative of the Delhi Crafts Council)

Cultural Study Tours

Mango Tree’s specially designed cultural tours are typically accompanied by a scholar guide of repute to view the historical or craft sites through the eyes of an expert. Some of the tours undertaken

• Buddhist Sites on the Silk Road (China)

• Roof of the World (Tibet)

• Indian Influence on Cambodia

• Marvels of Java

• Hampi, Paddakal, Aihole & Badami (Karnataka, India

• Terracotta temples of West Bengal

• Kutch, a haven for Craft (Gujarat)

Music & Theatre, Events & Workshops

Anjana has been prominent in the culture field in each city she has lived in.

• Trustee Sanskar Arts Trust – Co-created Hyderabad Festival of Arts - a five-day festival with maestros in music and dance.

• Somany Tiles Natya Utsav, a pioneering idea, the very first in Delhi.

• Bharat Gaurav - her producer-directorial debut on the big stage; a musical drama tracing the history of India from Mohenjodaro till Independence

• Workshop-Performances, transforming young lives by connecting them to our culture.

CSR at Somany Ceramics

CSR activities of Somany, spans several villages near the Company’s facilities in Gujarat and Haryana. Some of the programmes spearheaded-

• ‘Tile Master’ skilling initiative imparted to around 5000 masons each year in tile laying techniques

• Education Programmes in local schools

• Computer Literacy and Sports for youth

• Women’s Self-Help Groups

• Health Clinics and necessary machines installed in local hospitals.

• Facilitated laying of sewage pipes connecting five villages in Jhajjar District of Haryana

Philanthropic Work

Through her Mother’s and her own Foundation, she reaches out to the disadvantaged, with a focus on education that helps nurture responsible citizens. Some of these are-

• Masons Training programme, designed for unemployed youth for a means of livelihood.

• Tech-Shala, computer education in aided schools impacting up to 500 students each year.

• Documentary Film Making, a unique Techno-Craft amalgamation where Digital Interfaced Media helps take a participative journey through craft awareness.

• Entrepreneurship Development Programmes in craft pockets covering topics of banking & finance, rural marketing, design development and product diversification