‘Bank’a on this man!

He quit his government job and moved to Bihar, his hometown, to work for the upliftment of artisans

Monotony in work and lack of innovation led him to search for newer opportunities. He left his secure government job to try his hand in the creative advertising world yet could not find his true calling before moving back to his home town to set-up a social entrepreneurship with local artisans. Meet Udayan Singh, founder of Banka Silk, a handloom brand from Bihar that is working towards the upliftment of the artisans of Banka district in the state.

With an estimated net worth of around $3 million for his brand, Udayan employs 50 artisans directly and is an indirect source of bread and butter for around 7,000 more. Talking about his journey the Banka-based civil engineering diploma holder says, “I come from a very backward and economically weaker part of Bihar where securing a government job seems like an ideal goal for every youngster. I served in the Indian Railways for almost five years before realising that I could work no more. I was always inclined towards the creative arts and used to write jingles during my colleague days. So, it came in handy when I planned to switch careers. I spoke to my friends in the media industry, who encouraged me to quit my job and try my hands in Ad film making.”

His love for creativity took him to Delhi. “I worked for the Ad world and created over 100 Ad films, and was also lucky to do a primetime television serial — Ek aangan ke ho gaye do — for Doordarshan with Lekh Tandon. But somehow I was never content. During visits to my hometown, I was deeply moved by the plight of the local weavers who couldn’t afford education for their children. In 2012, I returned, hoping to make a difference to the lives of the hundreds of weavers in Banka. With more exposure through strategies like exhibitions, they could earn more for their hard work,” shares Udayan.

The chairman of CII Young Indian Bihar Chapture, Udayan also ensures that the youth of the state do remember their social responsibilities even while enjoying sports and other recreational activities. “I love cricket and used to play at district level. Every year we organise the ‘Social Premier League’ with an objective to bring together the youth fraternity and address issues such as illiteracy, domestic violence and caste discrimination, which are plaguing the society. The winning team donates the award money for the cause. The idea is to spread awareness and yet provide an opportunity to enjoy the game.”

Currently, he is busy showcasing the collection produced by his brand at various fashion platforms and exhibitions. Going forward, he aims to achieve international recognition for the artisans. “I like to travel to the interior cities of our country and understand the rich craft traditions.” Talking about his dream destination, he smiles and says, “I want to visit Paris. This timeless beauty and its grandeur are inspiring with its architectural icons, exquisite cuisine, chic boutiques and priceless artistic treasures. I also wish to showcase our collection at the Paris Fashion Week. Milan is also on my wish list.”