Uma Kannan has a doctorate in socio-cultural anthropology from Madurai Kamaraj University. She lives in Madurai and is the Secretary of the Thiagarajar College, Madurai, and an Executive Committee Member of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage). Uma is passionate about Indian art and culture, and the preservation of traditional wisdom through the revival of local crafts and skills. Over the years, this has inspired her active involvement in several educational, social and philanthropic causes, including programmes aimed at uplifting rural women, craftspersons, and the differently-abled.