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Shankar Raichand

"Namastee, I'm Shankar Raichand, from Bhuj. I never really went to school, not because my parents couldn't afford it, but because I simply wasn't interested in studying. I could say that I was a brat, but I was really scared of teachers. I would go to the school, but bunk my classes to play with friends, and return home until the time was technically finished for the day.

"Eventually my parents found out, understood my disinterest in academia and decided to let me be myself. My father was an expert tanner, and specialized in leather boots. Though I never got interested in his work, I used to enjoy wearing the boots he tooled. My eldest brother worked closely with my father. Out of compulsion, I also learned the art of tannery from my father.

"One day, as I was strolling down the village when a handmade leather bag grabbed my attention. I was so mesmerized by this handbag, that I started visualizing in my mind how to make it using the skills I had learned from my father. I returned home and immediately started to tool the bag I had envisioned, and it came out brilliantly. I just loved it! Slowly, with this newfound interest, I continued making more and more bags. It's been over 20 years since I've been designing and crafting bags.

"I am married, my wife is a homemaker and we have six children. My eldest son, who is now 23 years old, helps me in my work. It is just the two of us. He studied up to 12th grade, while my four daughters studied only up to 7th grade, since this was the last grade taught at the only school in the village. For further education, children are required to go to another town but in our culture it's not deemed decent to send daughters away from home to study. I know it is a sad state of affairs, but that is the reality in rural villages. Nevertheless, I am happy that at least I was able to provide some education to my children.

"Our bags have been exhibited throughout India, and in 1999 I was the recipient of the National Merit Award."