Handicraft artisans from Kashmir have brought laurels to the valley by bagging two Shilp Guru and six national-level awards in different craft categories.
“The Shilp Guru Awards are given to master craftspersons in recognition of excellent craftsmanship, product excellence, and the role played by them as gurus in the continuance of crafts to other trainee artisans as a vital part of traditional heritage,” said a statement from the Department of Information and Public Relations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The awards were started in 2002, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the resurgence of handicrafts in India. The award consists of a gold coin, Rs 2 lakh prize money, a tamrapatra, a shawl, and a certificate.
The National Level Awards have been given since 1965 for outstanding craftsmanship in different craft categories. The award consists of Rs 1 lakh prize money, a tamrapatra, a shawl, and a certificate.
The Shilp Guru awards were conferred by Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, while the National Level awards were conferred by the Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce, and Industry, Piyush Goyal, at Vigyan Bhawan.
The award categories were announced for the year 2017, 2018 and 2019 amidst an august gathering that included officers from the office of Development Commissioner Handicrafts.
Addressing a gathering after presenting the Shilp Guru and National Awards, the Vice President said that the unique talent of our master craftsmen is representative of Bharat. “With your subtle workmanship, you embellish and enrich India’s cultural diversity. You represent India’s rich tradition of skills and craftsmanship,” he told the Shilp Guru awardees.