The author presents the concepts of art and craft as understood in India and explains how India's 'kala' is akin to Europe's 'art' yet fundamentally different in many ways. Understanding this enables the Indian student to evolve a truer, more genuine appreciation of his own culture. The author presents assignments for the student, which explain how a basic awareness of the Indian background of design, will make him a better designer. The importance of this book goes well beyond its suitability as a manual, because it provides information for the layman too, which has not been set down before with such clarity and precision.