Honouring creative excellence

Many artistes from across the country will have to come to the national Capital as Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, will present Shilp Guru and National awards to those who have contributed to Indian handicrafts.

21 Shilp Guru awards and 59 National awards will be awarded to master craftsmen for the year 2012, 2013 and 2014 on Wednesday at Vigyan Bhawan. This year 16 women will be awarded. The main objective is to give recognition to the masters for their excellence in craftsmanship and their valuable contribution to Indian handicrafts. 

Four craftsmen from Delhi will also receive Shilp Guru and National Awards. They include Chanchal Chakraborty for metal craft, Shweta Kaistha for hand embroidery, Devendra Kr. Jha for Madhubani painting, who will receive National Award and Harkishan will receive Shilp Guru Award for terracotta. Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State for Textiles (Independent Charge), SK Panda, Secretary (Textiles), JK Dadoo, Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor (Textiles), K Gopal, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) will be present on the occasion.

The office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) is implementing a scheme of National Awards for Master craftsmen since 1965.  The awardees represent almost all states of the country apart from different crafts styles of different locations in the country. 

The Award consists Rs 1,00,000 in cash, a Tamrapatra, an Angavastram and a certificate.  Since 1965 to 2014, 1193 master crafts persons responsible for maintain craft traditions have been selected.  Out of these 186 are women. 

The main crafts in which awards have been given are metal engaving, terracotta, Worli painting, Madhubani painting, Punjabi Tilla juti, miniature painting, gold leaf painting, Pichawai painting, Phad 

painting, hand block printing, bone carving sandal wood carving, tie and dye clay modelling, coconut shell carving, lace work, stone dust, Patta chitra paddy jewellery, straw craft and Maru embroidery etc.