Hoshiarpur artisan bags Shilp Guru Award

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, September 18

A craftsman from Punjab has received the prestigious Shilp Guru Award by the Union Ministry of Textiles. Rupan Matharu of Hoshiarpur has bagged the award for the year 2016.

Adding another feather to the family’s cap, his son Kamaljeet Matharu has been awarded the National Award for Fine Craftsmanship. The duo was honoured at an award ceremony held in Chhattisgarh last week. Eight craftsmen from across the country were awarded Shilp Guru while 25 were given the national award.

Talking to The Tribune, Rupan said he had bagged the award for his entry of the wooden chest that he had crafted over years. He said, “It took me four long years to finish the finely carved wooden chest that was highly appreciated by the awards panel. The sheesham wood chest with fine acrylic inlay work was my entry for the award and it brought the honour that I had been dreaming of for several years. The chest was put on display at the national exhibition organised at the award ceremony venue and it was priced at Rs 70 lakh.” Rupan was awarded a Tamra Patra, a gold medal, a certificate and cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.

Rupal’s son Kamaljeet also bagged the National Award for Fine Craftsmanship for a wooden table with acrylic inlay work. Kamaljeet said, “As I was also undertaking commercial activities to earn bread and butter for my family, it took me around four years to complete the table. It is a matter of great honour for me especially when my father too has been honoured with the top award of Shilp Guru on the same stage.” Kamaljeet’s article was priced at Rs 16 lakh in the exhibition. Kamaljeet was given a Tamra Patra, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Rupan said it was not easy to carve the articles as not only the chest was to be made and the inlay work was to be done, they had to even prepare their own tools.

Rupan Matharu had come into limelight when a wooden chest crafted by him was selected by the PM’s Office and then presented by Narendra Modi to US President Donald Trump during his US visit.