I am Manju M Hinduja, a handloom curator, artist, and designer based in India.
This space is my quiet corner on the internet — reflections, art, handlooms, psychology, and the gentle wisdom life reveals when we slow down.
Manju M Hinduja — a Handloom Curator and Cultural Writer, Artist, Designer, and Contemplative Thinker with a lifelong connection to Textiles, Creativity, and the Inner World of Human Behaviour.
My journey began with a degree in Psychology from Mithibai College, followed by my entry into the world of fashion at Sophia College, Mumbai, in 1986. I’ve always believed that how we understand people and how we create are quietly connected — one reveals the other.
Over the next few decades, my professional path grew through the garment export industry. I worked across every department – sampling, production, quality, buyer communication- and exported garments to Canada, Austria, Estonia, Sri Lanka, Israel, Brazil, Panamá. Those years shaped my discipline, broadened my understanding of global markets, and taught me the art of blending creativity with structure.
In 2010, life took me to Bangladesh. What began as business grew into something far more meaningful. I found myself contributing to cultural events, supporting community initiatives, participating in social programs, and learning deeply about human behaviour during a time of transition in their society.
Returning to India in 2015 opened a new chapter — one rooted in our own cultural heritage.
My introduction to fine handlooms came through family, and it felt like coming home. I travelled to weaving hubs, met weavers, understood their challenges, and saw the industry through their eyes. Curating handloom sarees became more than work — it became a way to honour heritage, artistry, and the hands that keep our traditions alive.
Art has always been my personal sanctuary. I paint in Tanjore style, watercolours, oils, sketches, and fabric art — each medium reflecting a different inner landscape. Art is where I heal, observe, understand, and express pieces of myself that words cannot hold.
Today, I am also pursuing my Master’s in Psychology — a commitment to deepen my understanding of the mind and to continue learning, growing, and evolving.
Through all these chapters — childhood in Mumbai, years in Chennai, export work across countries, five meaningful years in Bangladesh, my return to handlooms, my art practice, and my ongoing study of psychology — one thing has always remained constant:
• Depth over superficiality
Choosing meaning, intention, and substance over noise and trends.
• Simplicity in living, richness in thinking
Living lightly, while cultivating a mind that is curious, reflective, and expansive.
• Emotional integrity
Feeling honestly, responding consciously, and staying true to one’s inner compass.
• Creativity as a way of life
Allowing artistry — in thought, craft, and expression — to guide daily life.
• Healing through reflection, nature, and art
Turning inward, turning to beauty, and turning to the earth for restoration.
• Cultural respect & handloom heritage
Honouring the hands, histories, and traditions behind every woven thread.
• Independence with grace
Living self-directed yet gentle, strong without harshness.
• Thoughtful community & meaningful connections
Choosing depth in relationships and intention in the spaces we belong to.
• Continuous learning
Remaining a student of life, mind, and craft — always evolving.
• Purpose over popularity
Doing what is right and meaningful, not what is easy or applauded.
I write to understand myself.
I write to express what the mind observes but the mouth chooses not to say.
I write because thoughts become clearer when they touch paper.
And I write because somewhere, someone may find a piece of themselves in my reflections.
– Manju M Hinduja
If you’re in Chennai and enjoy meaningful conversations, sarees, culture, or conscious networking, I’d love to connect with you.
I’m nurturing two small circles right now:
a very intimate saree group (you can read its story here → https://indusdivas.com/about-indus-divas/)
&
a women’s networking idea that I’m slowly shaping.
These circles will grow gently, and I’d love to build them with women who resonate with this energy.
If you’d like to stay updated about meet-ups, gatherings, or when these circles unfold, you can share your details below.
