WHO WE ARE
Sh. Malchand Ji Kalakar
(National Award Winner- 1971 for Sandalwood Miniature Carved Rajasthani Doll)
About Malchand ji Kalakar
Sh. MALCHAND JI Kalakar (National Award Winner- 1971 for Sandalwood Miniature Carved Rajasthani Doll) shree MALCHAND JI Jangid From Churu, Rajasthan, was a master sandalwood craftsman who won the national award in 1971 by Former President of India V.V. Giri and a special award the following year from the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Fifteen years later he died leaving behind a wealth of the most delicate and exquisite carvings for posterity. He also ensured that his traditional skill as a sandalwood carver was passed on to his children and grandchildren. Though sandalwood is no longer easily available, the skill has stayed alive in the Jangid family. Now this work has been going on from generations. the work function of sandal wood intricately carved to play in a manner standing tradition in this art today.
Story of Malchand ji Kalakar
MALCHAND JI JANGID, was an artist par excellence who was self-taught in the art of miniature carving on sandalwood. He had once told his children that he had seen a dream where God asked him to do miniature carvings to earn a living. He lived up to the dream and soon sat down to work. People in the sleepy town of Churu disregarded his words as that of a maverick. Soon afterwards, when his exquisite carving was ready, it caught the attention of a local businessman. Such was the impact of his skill on the businessman that MALCHAND JI JANGID was told that whatever he made would be bought by him. In the 1950s, for the first piece that he sold to the Nahta family, he got he got a princely (in those days) sum of ₹20 for his effort.
The businessman who bought his art pieces regularly set up the privately-held Nahta Museum which exists at Sardarsahar, some 50 kilometres from Churu. It is not open to the public, but it established the innate skill of MALCHAND JI JANGID, as people could see his amazing work being bought by an influential trader.When MALCHAND JI found a ready buyer, the fortunes of the Jangids changed forever. Soon, his sons got involved in the craft.