Prem Bery

Prem Bery, also spelled Prem Berry, was an Indian social worker and director of exports of ready-to-wear clothes at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), in Janpath, New Delhi, India. She co-founded the 'Refugee Handicrafts', with Fori Nehru, Achamma Mathai and Kitty Shiva Rao in 1947, and took up the post of its honorary secretary in 1949, three years before it merged with the CCIE. In her role as director, in 1953 she was sent to London to manage an Indian handicrafts exhibition during the Coronation of Elizabeth II. Back in India she was typically responsible for hosting state visitors.

Biography Prem Bery was from Lahore and evacuated the city in 1947. Bery's husband was the Government's dental advisor, Narendra Nath Bery.

Bery was noted to be part of Delhi's social elite who contributed to preserving India's handicrafts. In 1947 Bery co-founded Refugee Handicrafts in Delhi with Fori Nehru, Achamma Mathai and Kitty Shiva Rao. The aim was to utilize the skills of refugee women in order to increase their family incomes. The three housewives turned social reformers provided materials for the women to sew, knit, embroider, cut and perform other needlework. In 1949 Bery became the organisation's honorary secretary.

The business expanded and Inderbhai Haksar offered his shop 'Patel Brothers' in Connaught Place for the sale of the refugee merchandise.

She also became a board member on the All India Handicrafts Board. In her role as director, the following year she was sent to London to manage an Indian handicrafts exhibition during the Coronation of Elizabeth II. In 1962 Bery took First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on a tour of the CCIE during Kennedy's goodwill tour of India.