President presents Shilp Guru Awards to Craftspersons

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented Shilp Guru awards and National Awards to master craftspersons at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi today. 9 Shilp Gurus and 19 National Awardees received the awards for the year 2015. The main objective of the awards is to give recognition to masters for their excellence in craftsmanship and valuable contribution to Indian Handicrafts.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that by recognizing craft persons through conferment of the awards today, we are encouraging innovation and creativity in this field. He applauded the efforts of the Ministry of Textiles to promote, through these important awards, the creation of master pieces of art and make India a hub of master craft persons. He stated that our indigenous handicrafts are a cherished aspect of the Indian way of life. Their extensive range reflects our nation’s diversity and infinite creativity. Each region of our vast nation has its unique style and tradition. These elements stem from the ancient life-rhythms of the society.

The President said that good quality product has an international reach. The growth in handicraft exports at 16 percent in 2015-16 is an indication of the importance this sector is assuming in our export basket. Proactive steps are needed to realize the full potential of this sector. Promotion of products in both domestic and international markets would expand its geographic reach, achieve economies of scale and make production more viable. Policy support will be necessary to evolve profitable market linkages and ensure easier access to bank credit.

The President said that greater attention is needed for capacity building and skills recharge. “Guru Shishya Parampara” has been an important aspect of our traditional arts and crafts. Master-craftsmen, down the ages, have taken pride in passing on their skills to their succeeding generations. The long tradition of knowledge transfer in handicrafts must continue. In addition, our education system would do well to pursue a holistic course curriculum for imparting skills in fine arts. It will help identify hidden talent and ingenuity in many a student.

Congratulating the awardees, the Union Textiles Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani said that the Awards are the nation’s gratitude to all mastercraftspersons for their outstanding contribution in the field of handicrafts. The Minister said  that the recognition encourages all artisan brothers and sisters to work hard and bring prosperity to the handicrafts sector. The Minister said that it has been decided to give a larger share of skill upgradation budget to the scheme “Guru Shishya Parampara” for artisans.

She said that in order to harness the inherent potential of the handicraft sector, the Ministry of Textiles is providing thrust through skill upgradation, capacity building and initiatives arrived at integrating technology with craft techniques catalysing value addition in the craft products.

The Minister also mentioned the recent initiatives taken by the Ministry for the empowerment of artisans like  “Pehchan” Aadhar linked national database, national artisans portal, creating Common Facilities Centre etc.  She said that the Government’s dream is that people in all corners of the globe proudly ask for “Made in India” handicrafts products.

MoS, Textiles, Shri Ajay Tamta congratulated the artisans and welcomed their family members too, saying that creation of such exquisite craftsmanship is not possible without the active cooperation of family members.   He added that the Government is committed to the welfare of the artisans and in ensuring that the benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Textiles, Smt. Rashmi Verma said that the holding of the presentation ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan for the first time has added new glory to these awards. She assured artisans that the Government will take their full support in carrying forward India’s rich craft traditions.

Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Shri Alok Kumar and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Shilp Guru Award consists of a gold coin, Rs. 2,00,000/- in cash, a Tamrapatra, an Angavastram and a certificate.  National Award consists of Rs. 1,00,000/- in cash, a Tamrapatra, an Angavastram and a certificate.   The Shilp Guru Awards, National Awards and National Merit Certificate are awarded to a craftsperson only once in a lifetime, to encourage master craftspersons to maintain excellence in craftsmanship and keep alive our old tradition.

List of Shilp Guru Awardees for the year 2015

Sl.No.	Name & Address	Craft	State	Region
1.	Shri K.Siva Prasada Reddy S/o Sh.K.V.Rami Reddy (PO)Tangutur, 5/8/25, Banaganapally Mandal Kurnool District, Pin- 518 125	Kalamkari Painting	Andhra Pradesh	Southern Region
2	Shri Irshad Hussain Farooqi S/o Sh.Wali Muhammad Farooqi, House No.837/B, Street No.22, Moti Masjid Road, Zakir Nagar, New Delhi- 110025	Calligraphy in wood carving	Delhi	Northern Region
3	Shri Rajender Parshad Bondwal S/o Shri  Jai Narain Bondwal Hathi Dant Wale, Street No.4, Nai Basti , Bahadurgarh Dist. Jhajjar, Haryana-124 507	Sandal Wood Carving	Haryana	Northern Region
4.	Khatri Abdul Razak Mohmed S/o Khatri Mohmed Sidhik Khatri Vas, Dhamadka, Kutch – 370001,Gujarat	Ajrakh Hand Block Printing	Gujarat	Western Region
5	Abdul Raouf S/o Shri Shaik Ahmed R/o H.No.2-2-137, Kulsum Galli Chowbara Road, Bidar Karnataka – 585 401	Bidri Craft	Karnataka	Southern Region
6	Sh.Girish Kumar Rajsoni S/o Shri Ghanshyam Lal Verma 01, Nakoda Nagar III, Ramtekri Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh Pin-458001	Thewa Craft	Madhya Pradesh	Western Region
7	Shri Pravakar Maharana S/o Shri Sadhu Charan Maharana, Sishupal Garh, Gangotri Nagar-2, Bhubaneswar-751002, Odisha	Stone Carving	Odisha	Eastern Region
8	Shri Inder Singh Kudrat S/o Shri Paddddmashree Kudrat Singh Kudrat-43, Ganesh Nagar, Moti Dungari, Vijay Path, Tilak Nagar Jaipur- 302004, Rajasthan	Enamel of silver & Gold jewellery	Rajasthan	Northern Region
9.	Shri Hari Charan Das S/o Shri Prasanna Kumar Das Vill & PO- Jagendranagar, Madhya Para, PS. East Agartala, Tripura (West) Pin-799004	Cane & Bamboo	Tripura	North Eastern Region

List of National Awardees for the year 2015

 

Sl.No.	Name & Address	Craft	State	Region
1.	Smt.Punam Das W/o Shri Binod Lal Das Vill. Salempur, P.O.Bijai, P.S. Pandaul, Dist. Madhubani, Bihar -847 404	Mithila Painting	Bihar	Eastern Region
2.	Smt.Ramrati W/o Shri Harkishan RZ-111, Prajapati Colony, Indra Park, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi – 110059	Terracotta	Delhi	Northern Region
3.	Shri Zameer Ahmed S/o Ustad Mazharuddin B-38, 1st floor Nizamuddin west New Delhi-110013	Miniature Painting	Delhi	Northern Region
4.	Mohd. Yaqoob S/o Haji Nasiruddin R/o S-57, Main Road, Brahampuri, Delhi-110053	Metal Embossing	Delhi	Northern Region
5.	Zahid Hussain Beig S/o Shri Mohd.Hussain Beig 53, KadimMasjid, P.O. Nowshera, P.S.Lal Bazar, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir	Papier Machie	Jammu & Kashmir	Northern Region
6.	Shri M.Ramamurthy S/o Late V.Madhavachary R/o No.2, Nagadevanahalli Vinahyaka Layout Gyanabharthi post, Bangalore – 560056	Wood Carving	Karnataka	Southern Region
7.	Shri Laxmidhar Subudhhi S/o Late Subal Subudhhi At-Raghurajpur, P.O./P.S. Chandanpur, Dist. Puri, Odisha- 752012	Palmleaf Engraving	Odisha	Eastern Region
8	Shri Biswanath Swain S/o Late Bhim Swain At-Raghurajpur, P.O./P.S. Chandanpur, Dist. Puri, Odisha- 752012	Palm Leaf Engraving & Painting	Odisha	Eastern Region
9.	Smt.Jashobanti Meher W/o Shri Karnna Meher AT & PO- Barpali   College(Chowk), Dist. Bargarh, Odisha-786 029	Natural Fiber Craft	Odisha	Eastern Region
10.	Abdul Ghani, S/o Shri Hafiz Mohd. Shafi Plot No. B-17, 18 Vivekanand Colony,  outside Chandpole Gate, Khetri House, Jaipur-302016, Rajasthan	Block Printing	Rajasthan	Northern Region
11.	Shri Vasudev Sharma S/o Late Sh.Lakhan Lal Sharma E-2, Vidhan Sabha Nagar, Dholai, New Sanganer Road, Jaipur-302020	Miniature Painting	Rajasthan	Northern Region
12.	Shri Jugal Kishor Chandel S/o Shri Choti Lal Chandel House No.1848, Jai Lal Munshi Ka Rasta, Chandpole Bazar, Jaipur-302001, Rajasthan	Miniature Painting	Rajasthan	Northern Region
13.	Shri Roop Kishor Soni S/o late Shri Hari Ram Soni R/o House No.101, Murgi Farm Ki Gali, Gandhi Colony, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan- 345 001	Silver Engraving	Rajasthan	Northern Region
14.	Shri Akoju Venkateshwarlu S/o Sh. Akoju Chandramouli House No.2-3-207, Kaman Road, Karimnagar – 505001 Telangana State	Silver Filigree	Telangana	Southern Region
15.	Shri Munna Lal Soni S/o  Shri Shambhu Dayal Soni Mohalla –Chobayana Hardol Baba Parisar Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh-284403	Metal Craft	Uttar Pradesh	Central Region
16.	Shri Israr Ahmed S/o Shri Inayat Ali 474/24, Near Lions School Sitapur Road Khadra, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh -226 020	Bone Carving	Uttar Pradesh	Central Region
17.	Shri Kunjbihari Singh S/o Shri Ramsaran Singh K-4/53A, Lal Ghat, Varanasi Uttar Pradesh -221001	Gulabi Meenakari	Uttar Pradesh	Central Region
18.	Shri Sohit Kumar Prajapati S/o Shri Ram Adhin Prajapati Mo.Husenabad, P.O.Nizamabad, Dist. Azamgarh , Uttar Pradesh     Pin – 276 206	Black Pottery	Uttar Pradesh	Central Region
19	Shri Haradhan Das S/o Late Shri Nandalal Das Vill & Post-Haldinala, PO & PS-Garhbeta, Dist. Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal – 721127	Copper Engraving	West Bengal	Eastern Region