Bhubaneswar:Imagine a world where the trash does not go into waste. As weird it may sound, but it would be a world where the trash could be king. Comprehend a book shelf, next to your bed, made from planks which were thrown away by someone thinking they are better left dumped. Would not that be sight to behold, to see something which was once thought to have completed its cycle in this transient world getting a new lease of life? As Plato has said, “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.”
Such is the story of Shilpi Ghosh who is a homemaker, a mother to a six-month-old and an artiste, she is a complete package. It was in 2002, that Shilpi got a chance to realise her potential in art and craft. An adhesive manufacturing company launched a forum, ‘Hobby Ideas’, in February 2002 “as India’s first chain of art, craft and hobby stores offering over 2,500 products, expert advice and exciting workshops.” Shilpi said, “I will remain forever grateful to that forum, it was only after it that I could acknowledge the dexterity of my hands (chuckles).”
Presently, a resident of Delhi, Shilpi used to impart training at various schools in Bhubaneswar before launching her venture ‘Trash to Treasure.’
Orissa POST interacted with this 39-year-old jack of all trades who was in the city recently.
“Nowadays, every Tom, Dick and Harry blathers about saving the environment, flinging out bombastic words like sustainable development, but how many of them do seriously work on it?” she questioned.
She lamented that people’s brains are choked with “pretentious ideas,” where as nobody pay heeds to the run-of-the-mill type jobs.
“Is there anything that’s futile? I would say no, everything is useful in perpetuity. It’s us who have to keep the usefulness intact,” she said.
“Scrap products like old cartons, newspapers, magazines, plastic bottles and many such things can be reused in different ways,” she added.
Recently, she made a 3-D solar system out of old newspapers, cardboards and used tissue papers, the pictures of which were shared by her in her blog.
When asked about how she started her career in art and craft, she replied, “After my husband used to leave for work, I tried my hands on art and craft and after Hobby Ideas, I was catapulted into fame (laughs).”
After finding her hooked to art and craft, Shilpi’s husband encouraged her to purse it fulltime and make a career out of it.
Shilpi’s in-laws were supportive too. With a six-month-old kid she does find it tough, but not impossible. Sanjukta Sirdori, one of Shilpi’s friends, exclaimed, “You work for a few minutes, you may enjoy it but imagine working for 4-5 hours straight. Wouldn’t you get bored? But Shilpi doesn’t, never!”
Highlighting that normally it took 5- 6 years of training to achieve the success which she had got after just a few months of her stint in art and craft, Shilpi said, “Nevertheless, my case was completely different.”
“My friends, relatives and sometimes even complete strangers started giving me orders after seeing my first few craft items which I had gifted them,” she said.
Now, almost everyone at her Pitampura colony in Delhi, lends her a helping hand in her work, thereby learning the art.
“We try our best in helping here. This kind of support and understanding has changed her life. She is no more a confused and scared lady,” Sanjukta said. “Now, she imparts training to kids here and has taken up many such works,” she added.
It may be mentioned here that while in Bhubaneswar, Shilpi had organised a 15 day workshop for women of poor families and bought each of them a toolbox.
“It was engaging, quite interesting as everyone was equally enthusiastic like me. All were in a mood to learn which made the workshop a success,” Shilpi said.
Shilpi barely spends 5 hours a day to earn more than Rs 40,000 per month. “Isn’t that interesting? Earning from doing the thing which you love, it’s passion,” she said.
In 2010, Shilpi was awarded with the Green Artist award from New Delhi women’s at Pitampura and in Pune, Shilpi was awarded the Best Pidilite Craft Artist of the Year (2015) by the local authorities.
“All my clients know that I am a mother and a homemaker but that doesn’t cast a doubt on their minds on my competence. My order book is always strong,” she said.
Shilpi has her own channel on YouTube and is all set to open her training school where she aspires to teach children and poor women this craft.
“I am doing my part for a greener and, better future and I am enjoying it. I urge everybody to do their part, I think this is the only way towards a sustainable development, keep doing your part,” she said.
Chaitali Shome, OP
