Prez to give away Shilp Guru, National awards to artisans

President Pranab Mukherjee will present the Shilp Guru awards and National awards for the year 2015 to master craftspersons at a ceremony here tomorrow.
"When a skill is pursued with both inspiration and dedication, it creates an enviable tradition. When the human spirit engages body, mind and heart to innovate and to perfect the art with zeal, it leads to the creation of a living legend. Shilp Guru Awards are given to craftspersons who are such living legends," a Textiles Ministry statement said.
The selection of Shilp Guru is done from amongst those who are hereditary masters, who received the National Award at the very inception of the scheme and who are alive or whose children are carrying on with the tradition and have made a valuable contribution in the development, creativity and expansion of knowledge in their craft.

The Shilp Guru Awards were launched by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) on 15 November, 2002, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the resurgence of Handicrafts in India. Since 2002 up to 2014, 117 artisans responsible for maintaining craft traditions have been selected for the award.
The office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) is implementing a scheme of National Awards for master craftspersons since 1965. The main objective is to give recognition to the outstanding craftspersons in the Handicraft sector.