Social work of Kamaladevi Chattopadhay includes serious works for the society. It was after India gained independence in the year 1947, that she started to work towards society. It was during this time that she started to grow concerned at the possibility that introduction of Western methods of factory based mass production in India as part of Nehru`s vision for development of India would affect traditional artisans, especially women in the unorganised sectors.

In order to find employment for people of the unorganized sector he established a series of craft museums to hold and achieve India`s crafts and indigenous arts that served as a storehouse for indigenous known how. This also included the Theatre Crafts Museum in Delhi.

Likewise, with equal enthusiasm and excitement she promoted the arts and crafts and also instituted the National Awards for Master Craftsmen and a culmination of her enterprising spirit lead to setting up of Central Cottage Industries Emporia, throughout the nation to cater to the tastes of a nation, rising to its ancient glory.

In the year 1964 Kamaladevi Chattopadhay also started the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC), Bengaluru, under the aegis of Bharatiya Natya Sangh, affiliated to the UNESCO. Its present director is famous danseuse Smt. Maya Rao.

Kamaladevi was a woman ahead of her times, she was instrumental in setting up the All India Handicrafts Board, she was also it`s the first chairperson, The Crafts Council of India was also the first president of the World Crafts Council, Asia Pacific Region.

She also set up the National School of Drama and later headed the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and also a member of UNESCO. Her acclaimed autobiography, Inner Recesses and Outer Spaces: Memoir was published in 1986.

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