Just like some other boys who sometimes played with their mothers’ saris in their childhood days, 35-year-old Himanshu Verma too played with them when young, but he never knew his interest would take such a form that he would be called The Sari Man of India. He loves to drape one and poses questions about the notion that sari is only a feminine attire. Based in New Delhi, Himanshu is a graduate in English Literature but has informally studied Indian aesthetics, which basically formed the basis of a lot of his works as they are all centered on the subject. He runs Red Earth, curates art (photographs, textiles, music and of course, saris), puts together The Sari Festival every year, is a  celebrator of Indian culture and has a lot to talk about his love saris.

Tell us briefly about your organization, Red Earth?

Set up in 2004 right after my graduation, Red Earth is an independent private arts organization. Through this multi-disciplinary firm, we engage with diverse forms of cultural expression, from Indian contemporary art (with a strong focus on painting and supporting the work of emerging artists who negotiate multiple formal spaces) to design, performing arts, educational programmes and experiential tourism; in the process devising varied and eclectic programming, festivals, exhibitions, projects and events. In a word, we create arts experiences. The idea is to celebrate culture in India in all its varied manifestations, in an unlimited way. I started organizing events soon after setting up the firm which grew very organically. Ever since then, I have been exploring different kinds of projects.