LUCKNOW: Happiness knew no bounds for the skilled artisans from UP when they saw their products being gifted by PM Narendra Modi to the world leaders at the G7 summit.
"He (PM) is like a father who thinks for his child's welfare. Our business was on the verge of closure when he showed us the path. I had never, even in my dreams, thought that Modiji would recognise my product in such a unique manner," said 28-year-old Rohan Vishwakarma, a sixth-generation of artisans involved in the gulabi meenakari art form in Varanasi.
Rohan along with his father Rakesh had made gulabi meenakari cufflink for US President Joe Biden and a matching brooch for First Lady Jill Biden.
Firoza Begum from Prayagraj who made moonj basket was overjoyed when she came to know that her product was gifted by PM Modi to Senegal President Macky Sall. "We are very fortunate to have Modiji as our PM and Yogiji as our CM. They have given us a new identity globally. No PM had ever shown interest in our products and gifted it to top leaders. We are indebted to him for giving us recognition and helping us grow financially," said 36-year-old Firoza who is a third-generation moonj artist.
Om Prakash Sharma from Varanasi who made a lacquerware Ram Durbar, which the PM gifted to the Indonesian President Joko Widodo, said, "The feeling is beyond words. Kisne socha tha ki koi PM is art ko zinda kar hum logon ko ek nai zindagi denge (Who had ever thought that a PM would give a new lease of life to art forms and artisans?) Before 2014, this art form, which has been our main occupation for five generations, had turned into a side business. But today, we are unable to complete the orders," said 51-year-old Sharma who took 18 days to prepare Ram Durbar.
Falling short of words in expressing his gratitude to the PM and CM for encouraging indigenous and specialised products and crafts in UP, 55-year-old Dwarka Prasad Soni, who made a cufflink and brooch set of Shazar stone (from Banda), said, "We have slogged over years to run our families. The 400-year-old art form was almost dead when the PM intervened and ODOP was launched. It came as a blessing. With PM giving us international fame, we do not have to look for other employment avenues," Soni said. Thanking the PM and CM for global platform, Pranjal Agarwal who prepared 'itr' which were gifted to the France president said, "It's a matter of pride for us. It had never happened earlier. Since we knew beforehand that our products would be for special ones, we had put forth the best and unique ones."
