Om Prakash
Om Prakash
Visitors to the Crafts Bazar can buy special baskets made from Kusa and Mount grass. Om Prakash and a team of 370 women weave them at Bhabhi village and 11 nearby villages in UP. The grass, which grows along the banks of a river is harvested only once a year by the women artisans themselves and dried for a fortnight. After a time-consuming process of re-washing and dyeing, they weave it when it is still not completely dry so that it is pliable. Wetting the grass makes it stronger and they use only natural dyes. The rest of the year is spent in weaving baskets in all shapes and of various colours. By introducing items like coasters, laundry baskets, napkin holders, these weavers keep their craft relevant and fulfil urban requirements. The products are washable and long-lasting. Om Prakash has a semi-finished coaster at his stall and is willing to give a live demo to those interested.
Price range begins from ₹75
Pushpa Harit
Pushpa harit
Pushpha Harit has won a National Award for bead craft in 2007 and several state awards in 2003 and 2004. She comes from a family of garland makers and was taught this craft by her mother. From stringing of beads to now making intricate designs on bangles, necklaces and earrings, Pushpa has elevated her craft and made it commercially viable. Each piece is unique and takes many hours — sometimes days — to complete. Harit is a happy person who not only remembers her customers but also knows their likes and dislikes. According to her, when an artisan completes 55 years of age the Government of India awards the title of shilpa guru. She’s eagerly looking forward to that. She has around 30 women working for her and is authorised by the Government to train others in bead work. Her family hails from Neemuch village in Madhya Pradesh where the women spent their time stringing beads to make jewellery for friends and family.
Price range begins from ₹100
Irrfan Mohammed
Irrfan Mohammed Bibaji
A first-time visitor to Coimbatore, Irrfan Mohammed and his family have a glass bangle-making factory in Jodhpur. While all the work is done by hand, they have special cutters to cut glass when it’s still molten. He comes from a family of glass artists that has been making glass bangles for four generations. Irrfan wanted to add value to his craft by making a product that was superior in quality and finish to that of others in his village. After extensive research for 30 years, he brought out his specialised selection of glass bangles. He adds a special binding agent to the molten glass, which he says is a trade secret. The bangles are cut with a diamond cutter and bevelled to give maximum sparkle. He also incorporates designs like kundan and filigree work in his creations. The filigree is done by hand on special gold paper used for miniature craft and is carefully transferred onto the glass. His brand is called Bibaji .
Price range begins from ₹850
Pawan Prajapati
Pawan Prajapati
Mohan Kumar Prajapati and his family are devoted to miniature painting. He has won the National award in 2007 and the state award in 2009. He has been an artist for 40 years. At the Crafts Bazaar this year, his work is being exhibited by his son, Pawan Prajapati, who has been painting for the past 10 years. Sheets of paper from old manuscripts and post cards are embellished with exquisitely painted miniatures. Prajapathi says that paper that is sourced from old books that contain no chemical additives as this allows the art to stand out. Postcards are also a great medium on which to practise and hone one’s skills. He says the family started doing miniatures of subjects other than Mughal depictions. They found there were very few takers for these. He uses a magnifying glass to point out the details on wildlife pictures and still portraits. His forte lies in shading and it takes him anywhere from a few days to a month to finish a piece depending on its size.
Price range begins from ₹250
Tasawar Hussein
Tasawar Hussein of Agaaz
The Agaaz society was organised in 2001 at Salai Village in Hapur District of Uttar Pradesh to financially empower rural Muslim women through their bead work. The women are given design inputs from organisations like NIFT and Dastkar. Every year Tasawar Hussein and his wife Afsana journey to Coimbatore, bringing the creations of these women. Their USP lies in the bead-work bangles, which come in a riot of shades. They aren’t just strung in line but are fashioned into small flowers and then put together. The colour combinations are fabulous and so many that it is difficult to choose just one set. The necklaces are very flexible and strung in a manner that look contemporary and fit in with modern accessory trends. This craft has given confidence to many women who have enhanced their lifestyle and fulfilled their desire to be educated. Agaaz hopes to bring into its fold more women from neighbouring villages to empower them to stand on their own feet.
Price range begins from ₹360 per dozen bangles and ₹300 for necklaces
Mahesh and Suresh Kushwah
Mahesh and Suresh Kushwah
Pretty glass hummingbirds hang from a string and brothers Mahesh and Suresh Kushwah are its creators. Mahesh and his other brother Ghanshyam (who stayed back in Ferozabad) are National Award winners for their work in both blown glass as well as flame work techniques. There are tiny farm animals, clear pendants, necklaces, jhimikis and drops in coloured and clear glass. Their grandfather was a glass bead maker. They were taught by their father Sri Ram Sanchi who is also a national awardee. When the demand for glass beads went down, the brothers decided to make other things out of glass. They are constantly reinventing themselves and their creations. Suresh is the youngest and is picking up the finer nuances of the craft from his siblings. Their brand is called Taj Glass Handicrafts.
Price range begins from ₹200
Mohammed Yamin and Sitara Begum
Mohammed Yamin and Sitara Begum
Yamin has been making glass bangles since the age of five. He was taught by his father and uses the same technique for more than 50 years. He buys the glass bits from Ferozabad. His wife Sitara Begum helps him. They live in the old Delhi area and he prefers to travel across the country to sell his wares as he feels that owning a shop will only add to his rising costs. His bangles are so tough that very often he stands on them to convince his customers of their durability. His moment of fame came when he was invited to Pragati Maidan (escorted by gun-toting security) to make bangles for then first lady Michele Obama, on November 8, 2010. He says that he is sticking with the old designs and methods and is happy that his bangles are very nominally priced. Just then a lady insists he reduce his price further. He shakes his head, smiles politely and looks at us resignedly.
Price range begins from ₹50
Crafts Baazar, organised by the Crafts Council of Tamil Nadu will be on until August 2 from 10.30 am to 8.00 pm at Suguna Kalyana Mandapam, Avinashi Road
