Who is Margaret Ramtharsiem? The Manipur artisan praised by PM Modi on Mann Ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat on Sunday had a different kind of feel to it. A little slower. A little more thoughtful. It was the 129th episode of the radio show, and also the last one for 2025. So naturally, there was some looking back - at the year gone by, at how far the country has come, and at what might be waiting for us in 2026.

But Mann Ki Baat has never been only about milestones and big announcements. It’s also about people. Ordinary Indians doing quiet, steady work that doesn’t always make headlines. And this time, one of those stories came from Manipur.

PM Modi spoke about Margaret Ramtharsiem from Churachandpur, and the way he talked about her made it clear this wasn’t just a passing mention. He shared how Margaret took something deeply local - bamboo craft, woodwork, traditional Manipuri handicrafts, and turned it into a way to support her community.



She didn’t set out to build an enterprise or lead a movement. She simply started with her own hands. Making things. Learning the craft. Staying rooted in what she knew. Over time, that personal journey grew into something larger. Today, more than 50 local artisans work with her, earning a living through skills that have been passed down in their families for generations.

What’s striking is how far that work has travelled. These aren’t products sitting on shelves in one small town anymore. Margaret’s handcrafted pieces are now sold in Delhi and other states too. A wider market. More visibility. And most importantly, steady income for artisans who might otherwise have struggled to keep their craft alive.




For Margaret, the recognition came out of the blue.

After the episode aired, she said she never imagined her name would be mentioned on Mann Ki Baat. Yes, a team from the Prime Minister’s Office had visited her recently to understand her work. But even then, she didn’t expect this kind of national spotlight. “It’s pushed me to do even better,” she said, adding that the acknowledgment has only strengthened her resolve.

And that’s what makes her story feel real. There’s no overnight success here. No dramatic turning point. Just years of patient work. She began by crafting bamboo and wooden products herself. Slowly, she brought more artisans together. Slowly, she found better markets. Slowly, she built trust.

Her focus has always been simple and practical, help local talent reach buyers beyond their immediate surroundings. Make sure traditional skills don’t disappear. And make sure the people behind those skills earn a decent, dependable living.

Today, her work stands as a reminder that culture doesn’t have to be frozen in the past to survive. It can grow. It can adapt. And it can put food on the table.

Sometimes, the most powerful stories aren’t loud or flashy. They unfold quietly, far from the spotlight, until one day, a voice on national radio pauses to tell the country about a woman from the hills of Manipur who kept going, one handmade piece at a time.