Ashish Malakar

Ashish an eminent Sholapith artist from Bonkapasi, Bardhaman district, has been practising this craft since childhood. His family is associated with Shola craft for almost three generations. He has learnt this craft from his grandparents and his father Aditya Malakar who won the prestigious President’s Award in 1974. His grandmother Katyayani Malakar also won the Presidents’ Award in the year 1979. He makes traditional items of Shola as well contemporary products which include figure of eminent personalities like Mahatma Gandhi. Ashish Malakar won the President’s Award as a recognition of his craftsmanship in 1990. He widely participated in many fairs and craft exhibitions in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune and Kolkata. He was invited in many countries like Singapore, Italy, Guyana, Scotland and Zimbabwe to showcase his skill. In October he visited to the craft exhibition in Norway to show his traditional skill. He has made a name for himself in sholapith.