Shanta Prasad Award for Excellence in Weaving 2019
Shri. Biren Kumar Basak
Since 2005, The Crafts Council of India has been administering the Shanta Prasad Award for Excellence in Weaving. This award has been instituted in memory of late Smt. Shanta Prasad, a CCI member and Hon. Treasurer by her family, It carries a cash prize of Rs.10,000/-, a medal, an ‘angavastram’, citation and a certificate.
The recipient of the Shanta Prasad Award for Excellence in Weaving 2019 is Shri. Biren Kumar Basak from Nadia, West Bengal for his Excellence in Jamdaani Weaving.
Born in 1951 in Tanghail District of Bangladesh, into a traditional family of ‘taant’ weavers, Shri. Biren Kumar Basak and his family migrated in 1962 to Phulia in West Bengal. The family settled down in Phulia and passed through hard times before Biren Kumar opened his own shop and weaving unit in 1987. He became an expert taant weaver ‘or drape of dreams’ right from plucking the cotton bud to weaving some of his finest weaves.
Shri. Biren Kumar Basak is also credited with initiating the fine cotton jamdaani in Phulia. One of his recent masterpieces is the gossamer muslin jamdaani depicting the narrative of a Santhal festival.
All the weavers working under Biren Kumar are experts in their field including 600 women weavers. His core group of specialist weavers live in scattered villages, guarding the secret of their weaves. For magic, after all, must be woven in secret.
For his exceptional skills and proficiency in the art of weaving Jamdaani, the Crafts Council of India has great pleasure in honouring Shri. Biren Kumar Basak with the Shanta Prasad Award for the year 2019.
