Kutch Copper Coated Bell Hanging by Janmamad Luhar

Janmamad is a highly skilled artisan of the Copper Coated Bell craft. He grasped the skills from his father very early on in his childhood and formally joined the family craft business when he turned 18. Janmamad has always been enthusiastic to create traditional crafts and was one of the first people of his community to promote the craft to Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and Gujarat State Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation (GSH&HDC). This gave the community access to government sponsored exhibitions. He also initiated the process to form a cooperative called “Shree Zura Luharikam Audhyogic Sahkari Mandli Ltd.” Today, it is a registered cooperative with 55 artisan members. Janmamad is dedicated to developing meaningful livelihoods for his community out of their traditional crafts, striving to take his craft to new markets.

Creative Dignity, an unprecedented national movement supporting Indian artisans is initiating ‘Artisan Direct - Gujarat’ – a ten-day Covid19 campaign enabling 40 artisans from Gujarat to reach customers digitally, giving them access to new markets and livelihoods opportunities.