How Shruti Dandekar’s 693-Hour Quilt Celebrates Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, born in 1630, was one of India’s greatest warriors and the founder of the Maratha Empire. A visionary leader, he revolutionised warfare with his innovative tactics and established a strong, independent kingdom in the heart of the Indian subcontinent. Known for his exceptional military strategy, valour, and relentless pursuit of justice, Shivaji Maharaj’s reign was marked by his commitment to religious tolerance and good governance. He not only fought against foreign invaders like the Mughals and the Portuguese but also laid the foundation for a powerful empire that would go on to shape the future of India.

February 19 marks the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. To observe this day, we are revisiting our interview with artist Shruti Dandekar, who had built a quilt depicting the coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 

It took Shruti Dandekar 693 hours of applique, 20,888 pieces, 41 hours of quilting by Manisha Patankar-Iyer Studio Baani (Pune) and 288 shades of fabric to complete this 19 feet x 8 feet quilt themed upon Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 

At SheThePeople.TV's  Digital Women's Award, where she was announced a winner in the disruption category, Dandekar - founder of a quilting venture and platform, 13 Woodhouse Road - told us she was working on a quilt project that is a "larger than life." She mentioned, how after the project, she would have completed over 600 hours of work. Months later, she had a quilt that speaks volumes about her passion, dedication and incredible talent.

SheThePeople.TV spoke with Shruti Dandekar about the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj quilt, the process that she went through, and more.

You have taken quilting to another level with this latest piece of work. What led you to make this quilt?

Ever since I started making portrait quilts, I had always dreamt of making something larger than life. This project is my attempt at making my dream a reality.

What were the challenges you faced in the process?

The whole experience was a learning curve. When I started, I had no idea about how I was going to do it. I just tried and erred and came up with easier ways of doing stuff. Making such an intricate quilt of this size had a lot of challenges. Apart from the technicalities, procuring the required fabric in required shades and then identifying and putting each piece into place was a huge task in itself.

Consistency, which is not my strongest point, was also a key here. I really stepped out of my comfort zone and worked diligently. I planned a lot - even to the smallest detail. I changed my plan a lot of times, but I always had one.

Other challenges like duties as a mother and the guilt of not doing enough were always there, but, as I said, I was determined to do this and I kept imagining the day of unveiling to motivate me and keep going. I'm glad that I persisted, because I’m sure my family is more proud of me today.

What inspires you the most about Shivaji Maharaj?

Firstly, he was a great administrator. He was more a leader rather than a boss. He identified strengths in people and always chose the right man for each job. He was also a bundle of unique ideas. He never repeated his tactics and played a surprise card on his opponent each time. These are a few things that I was inspired by. I try to follow his ideal in these things. I will never achieve his height and stature, but will always try to make everyone proud of me, like he has done for centuries.

Why did you choose this specific picture - Shivarajyabhishek (Coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj)?

If you want to pay tribute to someone, you always choose one of their most glorious moment. This moment - the Coronation - was not just about the crowning of a king but also an unprecedented event where the king had not inherited the kingdom but had established it himself. It was a realisation of the dream and he had started working on at the mere age of 16. What other moment would I choose?

What has been your biggest learning from this?

Making this quilt taught me a lot of things - patience, consistency, priorities, and skills. It also gave me a glimpse into people’s minds and what they thought about me. I got to know who really cared about me and who didn’t. I believe after a 10-month effort, I have emerged on the other side as a better person.