An entrepreneur, educationist, and one of the leading fashion curators of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh — brought the cradle of designers, NIFD, to the City of Temples, Jammu in 1997 with the vision of nurturing the talent and creativity of young designers and empowering them to carve a meaningful niche in society.
Academically accomplished, she holds a B.Sc., B.Ed., and M.A. in English from Punjab University, which reflects her strong foundation in education, communication, and leadership. These qualifications have greatly supported her long-standing contribution to academic excellence and skill-based training.
With Three decades of dedicated service in design education, Mrs. Thakur has played a pioneering role in shaping creative careers across the region. Under her leadership, NIFD has emerged as a respected platform where students transform their artistic potential into confident professional identities.
She is deeply committed not only to contemporary design education but also to the preservation of indigenous art traditions. She continues to keep the cultural torch alive by ensuring that NIFD’s curriculum includes exposure to traditional and gradually fading art forms such as Basohli Art, helping students stay rooted in heritage while building modern creative careers.
Through her visionary guidance, the institute has made a significant contribution to the growth of fashion and design education in the region, enabling numerous students to achieve their aspirations and establish themselves successfully in the creative industry.
Her journey reflects a powerful blend of academic strength, creative leadership, cultural responsibility, and commitment to women’s empowerment and youth development. She continues to inspire generations of learners to dream confidently, create meaningfully, and build independent futures through skill-based education.