These artisans included both men and women from diverse backgrounds, sharing a common passion and skill set for bamboo
The design and skill upgradation training workshop in Bamboo conducted by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, this year had participants from diverse backgrounds that included deaf-mute tribal siblings, a geologist and triple masters degree as participants.
The 15-days workshop sponsored by industrial extension cottage (INDEXT-C), Government of Gujarat, was recently conducted by the International Centre for Indian Crafts (ICIC) of NID in which 25 artisans from different parts of Gujarat participated. These artisans included both men and women from diverse backgrounds, sharing a common passion and skill set for bamboo.
For Lalitaben Shankarbhai (33) and Motibhai ( 29), deaf and mute siblings from Dahod, the workshop was a confidence booster for them. Accompanied by their father to NID, Shankarbhai told dna how they survive on making folding bow and arrow in Dahod. He said, "Both my children are deaf and mute and we have been making bow and arrow since generations. But it is not earning us money. This was the main reason I bought them to NID. Here, we have learnt new techniques of basketry making."
Whereas, for 63-year-old Shankarbhai Patel, a retired geologist from Gujarat Water Resources Development Authority, this workshop gave a new lease of life. A passion for miniature models since childhood, Shankarbhai has been associated with bamboo for quite some time. He even received recognition for his magnificent models of Akshardham and Somnath temples. However, due to a brain stroke in 2013, he lost his memory but remembered only things related to bamboo, confirmed his wife Anusuya adding that he participated in the workshop only to upgrade his skills and explore the use of new technology in Bamboo.
Forty-two-year-old Neelam Chobisa holds a triple Masters degree in History, Sanskrit and Botany. She also cleared her prelims for Indian Administrative Services however due to her ill health, she could not appear for the interview. Battling with her health and knowledge in botany, she now creates tiny natural landscapes in a glass bowl. Through this workshop, she wanted to create new life around this indigenous material bamboo.
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