Senta Maria Anna Siller Awarded Sitara-e-Pakistan
Saturday, August 16, 2025
To ensure authenticity, Dr. Siller herself travelled to northern Pakistan to study traditional attire, including that of the Kalash people, believed to be descendants of Alexander the Great’s soldiers. Over time, these handcrafted items were not only showcased in major Pakistani cities but also internationally — particularly in Germany — under the name Thatta Kedona.
The project brought more than just recognition. It offered the village women a steady source of income, enhancing their self-esteem and improving their position in a traditionally patriarchal society. But Dr. Siller’s vision went far beyond dolls. She contributed immensely to the welfare and development of the village. She helped build and furnish the primary school, provided students with free books and stationery, and played a key role in introducing solar power and later connecting the village to the electricity grid. Thanks to her, a proper asphalt road was constructed, connecting the main road to the Women Art Centre, which was later renamed Senta Siller Design Center (SSDC) in her honour. Dr. Siller also initiated a clean drinking water project that serves the entire village. She launched a green initiative, encouraging tree planting and environmental care. Her idea "One Baby, One Tree" provided each newborn’s mother with a fruit tree, encouraging them to nurture the tree as they would their child.
As a symbolic gesture, every doll-maker received a Bougainvillea plant, so that blooming flowers in front of homes would signal to visitors: a doll-maker lives here.
Dr. Siller's efforts transformed Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka — not just in infrastructure, but in spirit. To provide basic healthcare to the people of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, a village dispensary was established as early as 1992 by Dr. Leila Siller, a medical doctor and the daughter of Dr. Senta Siller. The nearest hospital is five kilometres away, so the dispensary became a lifeline for the local community. Dr. Senta Siller personally supervised and supported the handicrafts project until 2007, before returning to Germany. She left the initiative in the capable hands of a self-organised group of village women, empowering them to run it independently. To this day, she remains in regular contact with them through occasional Zoom conferences, offering guidance on handicrafts and welfare-related matters.
Today, the villagers are overjoyed by the announcement that the Government of Pakistan will honour Dr. Senta Siller with the Sitara-e-Pakistan (also known as Sitara-e-Imtiaz) in recognition of her outstanding service. She will celebrate her 90th birthday this year and is expected to receive the award in person on March 23, 2026.
Previous: Governor Award Conferred Upon Senta Maria Anna Siller
Labels: Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Germany, Okara, Pakistan, Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:26 AM,
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Thatta Kedona
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Labels: Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 5:46 PM,
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Thatta Kedona Dolls Shop
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Labels: Dolls, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:30 AM,
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The activities of Senta Siller
more than 75 years of successful work are
recorded in the following list:
Publications:
Catalogue, 46 p., © 2015
Compilation, 60 p.,© 2021
SSI 88, 110 p., © 2023
Paper Cut, 36 p.,© 2024
Musicales, 56 p., © 2024
AphoMics, 44 p., © 2024
KOB (Children's Outerwear), 44 p., © 2024
Puppetery, 88 p., © 2024
Naturales, 50 p., © 2024
Materiales, 34 p., © 2024
Fairytales and Toys, 36 p., © 2024
Marketing, 50 p. © 2024
Social, 36 p., © 2024
Training, 40 p. , © 2024
Research, 40 p., © 2024
Privado, 112 p., © 2025
and compiled from the archives
/SentaSillerArchiv-Landgut Stober-Cultura e.V. Nauen + ForZat-HVK-DGFK e.V. Berlin
Al Andalus 1954, 44 p., © 2023
Greece 1955, 44 p., © 2023
Three Little Dragon 1967, 24 p., © 2024
Marienleben 1970, 40 p., © 2023
Gnomi, 1985, 56 p., © 1985
Labels: A-e-F-e-A, Dr Senta Siller, Sparc Project, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:57 AM,
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Between Rest and Travel
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
April 8th - April 18th: Budapest, Shanghai, Auckland / New Zealand Congress of the International Lyceum Club in Tauranga, Meeting with friends from Switzerland, France, and Australia / Remembrance: Isabel Mertel, volunteer at TGD and artist, Sydney, Melbourne / Home of Dr. Elizabeth, volunteer at TGD, -
Bali, Dili / Timor Leste, Meeting with chief of cabinet of the Ministry of Art and Culture,
Singapore, Istanbul
April 26th: Workshop at the Landgut Stober project with artists
April 28th: Meeting in Leipzig / Grassi Museum
May 1st: Meeting at the Kolbow exhibition with former student and artist from the DGFK Claudia Becker-Jung
May 2nd: Commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Berlin capitulation, together with GreatGrancChildren
May 3rd: Visit to the Anne Guetzlaff exhibition in Wasserburg
Heraklion-Souda-Kolymbari / Visit of Dr. Papaderos regarding the memorial for the civilian victims of Crete between 1941 and 1945
Meeting with Anna Papaderos regarding the contribution in the DGFK INTERNATIONAL booklet
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Athens with a visit by the artist Spyros Kardamakis regarding the contribution in the DGFK INTERNATIONAL booklet
Visit regarding Greece doll project volunteer Dorit Savidou in Korapi
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Tirana-Durres / Albania
Labels: DGFK, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 6:05 PM,
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Empowering Women Through Handicrafts: Thatta Kedona Website Launched
Monday, May 12, 2025
At this joyful milestone, we fondly remember the German artist, Graphic Designer and Anthropologist Dr. Senta Siller, who founded this remarkable project over three decades ago and will be celebrating her 90th birthday this year. We also pay tribute to her husband, Dr. Norbert Pintsch, who stood beside her throughout this inspiring journey.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the many volunteers from around the world—especially from Germany—who visited our hamlet, Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, in District Okara, Pakistan, and generously shared their knowledge and expertise with the local community.
We warmly invite you to visit the website and share your feedback with us.
Labels: Culture, Handicrafts, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:48 AM,
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Punjab's Rich Heritage: Thatta Kedona's Handicrafts at Punjab Industrial Expo
Friday, April 25, 2025
Labels: Culture, Punjab, Punjab Industrial Expo, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:12 PM,
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Celebrating Punjab's Rich Heritage
Friday, April 18, 2025
The Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore recently hosted a three-day Punjab Culture Day celebration, and Thatta Kedona was proud to represent the Sahiwal Arts Council and Sahiwal Division. The event, held from April 17 to 19, showcased the rich cultural heritage of Punjab, featuring traditional music, art, and folk traditions.
Thatta Kedona's stall was a highlight of the event, featuring an array of vibrant handicrafts that showcased the region's unique craftsmanship. The stall's centerpiece was the exquisite handmade ethnic Pakistani dolls, which were a testament to the skill and creativity of local artisans.
The event was honored by a visit from Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, who was impressed by Thatta Kedona's handicrafts. She particularly appreciated the handmade and unique dolls and crafts on display, praising the organization's efforts to promote Punjab's cultural heritage. Provincial Minister Azma Bukhari also visited Thatta Kedona stall.
Labels: Dolls, Handicrafts, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:59 AM,
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NAD‘s Greenland in Dolls' Village TGD - A unique Tree Plantation Drive
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Labels: TGD, Thatta Kedona, Tree Plantation
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:38 PM,
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Thatta Kedona on Samaa TV
Monday, March 10, 2025
Labels: Dolls, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:45 AM,
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گڑیوں کے گاؤں
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Labels: Dolls Village, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:51 AM,
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Pakistan’s crafts for empowerment: Dr. Gwendolyn Kulick's Work
The academic journey of German design researcher and Professor Dr. Gwendolyne Kulick is both extensive and impressive. She volunteered for the Thatta Kedona project from 2004 to 2017 and taught at the BNU in Lahore before moving to the University of Cairo in 2015. She also contributed to the Berlin Ethnology Museum’s Thatta Kedona doll display until 2017. Her doctoral research focused on the Thatta Kedona doll project in the small Pakistani village of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, located in the Okara District. Dr. Kulick completed her PhD at the School of Design and Art at Wuppertal University in Germany, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Brigitte Wolf. Her dissertation explored the topic of "Pakistan’s crafts for empowerment."
Labels: Dr. Gwendolyn Kulick, Research, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:40 AM,
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Thatta Kedona at DACCHI Bazaar in LAHORE
Monday, February 17, 2025
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Labels: AFA (NGO), Cultura eV Nauen, DGFK e V Berlin, Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:55 PM,
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A Chance Encounter: Reconnecting in Berlin
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Their initial meeting took place in 2001 on Pakistan Day at the Pakistan House in Potsdam, Germany. This event was organized by DGFK e.V. The seeds of friendship sown that day have clearly endured, as evidenced by their joyful reunion in Berlin.
During their meeting, Dr. Gwendolyn gifted Dr. Senta a printed edition of her dissertation, which features Thatta Kedona as one of the projects examined. This thoughtful gesture served as a poignant reminder of the power of human connections and the importance of nurturing friendships over time.
Labels: Berlin, DGFK eV Berlin, Dr Senta Siller, Dr. Gwendolyn Kulick, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:39 AM,
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Greetings from the International Doll Museum in Flateyri
Monday, October 21, 2024
Our dolls can still be admired.
Dr Senta sorting and placing with volunteer Sabine and Sigga from the museum fund
Labels: Aamir Rafique, Amjad Ali, CULTURA e V, DGFK e V Berlin, Dr Senta Siller, Nauen, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:17 AM,
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Discovery Ride to Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka
Friday, August 2, 2024
Labels: Rafia Aslam, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:08 AM,
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THATTA KEDONA on DACCHI bazar in LAHORE
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
It started on the 2nd of March 2024 and ended on the 4th of March. These handicrafts depict the cultures and costumes of various regions across Pakistan. The German artist, designer, and anthropologist Dr. Senta Siller started it over 30 years ago. Thatta Kedona works under the local NGO Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama (AFA).
Labels: DAACHI, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:40 AM,
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Of the Power of the Small
Thursday, February 8, 2024
by
Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
No matter what is conceived or initiated, - more or less quickly the thought process moves to mass thinking and mass production; The motive in the background is to be able to participate in global events.
Even if such thought processes are understandable due to the global spree, still the preservation and support of small-scale and unspectacular projects are necessary.
It is not the globalization and digitization that represents the basis for the future, but the increasingly disappearing analog, the cultural asset that has emerged at some point - similar to the arctic seed vault in Spitzergen in the area of plants and horticulture.
It is urgently needed to support the delicate shoots of such projects is urgently needed, including the preservation of the environment.
The usual commercialization of such projects is counterproductive and destructive!
Labels: AFA, Cultura e V Nauen, DGFK e V Berlin, Norbert Pintsch, Senta Siller, TGD, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:38 PM,
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Poster Legend BookLets
Thursday, January 11, 2024
The design and format of the catalogs about Senta Siller are based on the catalogs of the former gallery EYLAU'5-Berlin - see www.DGFK-archive.de
The cover photo is a cut-out from a family photo titled Before the Big Trip by D. Eckardt from 1978.
Catalog with an overall overview
35 pages of work examples and 11 pages of photos (At Work – While Inspiring – At Leisure)
2015 first printing
Heikus
Visual implementation of Japanese short poems
60 pages
2020
Compilation
Work highlights of 75 years as a poster
60 pages
2021
AphroMics
A mixture of contemplative texts and minimal sketches
48 pages
2023/24
Material
Nature sketches and material alterations
48 pages
2023/24
Private Moments
Selected documents from the Siller archive
48 pages
2023/24
SSi 88 2022
66 words of greetings from all over the world on Senta Siller's 88th birthday.
Categorized according to 7 decades of creativity (1946-2021) as per SSA.
108 pages
2023
Labels: Aamir Rafique, Amjad Ali, Cultura e V Nauen, DGFK e V Berlin, Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:01 AM,
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Thatta Kedona virtual workshop on Zoom
Sunday, December 24, 2023
Labels: Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:15 PM,
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