About Our Makers
Bead Maker - Mr Anwar Husain Shaikh
Mr Anwar Hussain Shaikh is a national award-winning craftsman from Khambhat, India. He is skilled in the ancient process of bead making and one of the most talented artisans in this trade. In 2003, he won the National Award of India which is awarded by the Govt. of India to people for their exceptional service or performance in different fields.
Publications like BBC and National Geographic have featured Anwar and his works. He has also showcased his work in the Bollywood film 'Mohenjodaro'.
His father, Inayat Hussain, taught him the intricate art at the tender age of 12. Inayat Hussain received the National Award in 1989 for long-bead making.
Anwar's grandfather, Lalbhai Chandbhai Sheikh, was also a famous bead artist. He received the Certificate of Excellence from Indira Gandhi in 1971. Anwar's family has been practising beadwork for over 300 years. His son, Aaftab, is also playing his part to carry forward the legacy.
The craft of beadwork dates back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. This is one of the world’s earliest urban cultures, together with Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and Ancient China. The craft of beadwork is almost 5000 years old, and it is still practised in the Khambhat region of Gujarat in India. Mr Anwar Hussain Shaikh is one of the few bead making artisans still practicing these traditional techniques.
People all over the world wear jewellery made from beads. The Indus Valley Aristocrats also wore bead jewellery. They used semiprecious stones such as Agate, Carnelian, Bloodstone, and Lapis Lazuli. Today archaeologists study ancient bead making. It allows historians to understand ancient aesthetic expressions and trading networks. Anwar Hussain Shaikh has been involved in uncovering these mysteries.
YantraKart
YantraKart’s Mala Project started in the year 2015 with an aim to provide working opportunities to women in the Himalayas.
These women are based at Rishikesh – the birthland of Yoga and the land of the holy river Ganga. Mala making is an art that involves devotion so it gives benefits and positive vibes to its wearer. Gayatri mantra is chanted while knotting every bead, following this traditional process it takes about 45 minutes to make 1 mala.
Gayatri mantra
Om bhūr bhuvaḥ suvaḥ
tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasyadhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt
Gayatri Mantra is the mother mantra of all mantras - the most powerful Vedic mantra.
Blessing Ceremony
Once the malas are made, they are blessed by the priest in the nearby temple.
About the women artisans of YantraKart
These women earn their living by mala making and they support their families. With COVID19 it has become even more important to them as most of the earning members of the family lost their jobs. Rishikesh is a place of tourist attraction where people come for spirituality, yoga, and peace. With no or fewer tourists, it resulted in the loss of work opportunities. In many cases, they are now the sole earning members of their families.
Wages - They are paid a decent wage with the aim to provide them with maximum work so they can earn more.
Workplace – They work at their home as it’s the most comfortable place for them. They are provided with raw materials and mala designs.
Ambarya’s mission is to elevate talented artisans like Mr Anwar Hussain Shaikh and the artisans of YantraKart and preserve ancient crafts at risk of dying out. This work also supports the livelihood of small, ethical supply chains by consistently paying fair living wages.