Serendipity at G20

Shankar Vishwakarma, a master craftsman, makes wrought iron artworks such as the Madiya khamba and animal figurines of elephants, deer and horses. This iron craft is largely practised in the tribal belt extending from Eastern to Central India. The metalsmiths belong to nomadic, usually tribal communities, from Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, and of course, Chhattisgarh. The images represent belief systems and community traditions. Marketing and transporting these products can be a challenge for smaller artisans, as they stay in the interiors of Chhattisgarh (around 300 kms from the state capital, Raipur), resulting in a lack of exposure.