Craft. Design. Lives
The artisans
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Three children of artisans have come back to their villages and are working full-time. One of them is even a diploma holder in engineering, and now works as a Chitrakathi artisan.
In another case, the Alibaug copper enameling industry was on the verge of shutting down. However with the children of artisans coming back and learning the required skills from their fathers, the art form has come back to life.
We trained 100+ women in Odisha to be able to utilize the three-four hours that they have in a day. The goal was to help them achieve maximum production while maintaining quality. Creating molds and standard measurement processes helped us achieve this. Due to this, even if the products are made at different places, they are similar but maintain a handcrafted element with little variations between each product.
We introduce you to some of our stars
Gond
Choti Tekam
Choti came to Bhopal after her marriage to Santosh Tekam, where she was amazed to find so many artists in the city. She saw their paintings and felt that she could do it too. When Ram Singh Urveti gave her paper and colours, she didn’t hesitate for a moment, and covered the sheet with forms of deer, her favourite animal.
Choti and her husband Santosh are one of the first Gond artisans Ekibeki started working with in 2018. They have been part of many workshops, new stationery lines as well as the Indore Starbucks wall art.
Gond
Dilip Shyam
Hailing from the Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh, Dilip Shyam ji has been practicing Gond art for the last 25 years. He learnt the craft from his guru, Shri Jangan Singh Shyam and his uncle and had recently been felicitated with a State Govt. Award.
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Copper Enamelling
Sanjay Patil
Meenakari is an exquisite traditional craft where the surface of metals like gold, silver and copper is embellished with beautiful patterns in vibrant colored glass and intricate gleaming metal wires.
Of the initial 12-15 workshops along the Alibag area, Sanjay Patils' and Prashant Vaidya's workshops are the few that remain active.
Patachitra
Rupsona Chitrakar
Rupsona belongs to Maya, West Bengal and learnt the craft from her grandmother and father. Since art was practiced by her forefathers, she was drawn towards it since her childhood and grew up around it. The colors used in the paintings are all made from natural elements and are used to depicts various folk songs and stories.
Patachitra
Suman Chitrakar
Suman belongs to Haraldaspur, West Bengal and is the husband of Rupsona Chitrakar. He learnt the craft from his maternal uncle and his interest was ignited when he visited an exhibition showcasing various art forms and crafts.
Pichwai
Yugdeepak
A miniature artist traditionally from Bhilwara, Rajasthan and now resides in Udaipur. He learnt the art from his maternal grandfather and his forefathers had been indulged in the art form since generations. His way of working includes following the same process and methodologies which were used traditionally but working on modern concepts and that is what distinguishes his work from others.
Rogan
Rizwan Khatri
A third generation Rogan artisan Rizwan started learning the craft at a very young age. At the age of 15 he started creating his own paintings and earning through it.
Over the years his paintings became popular and recently one of his art works was presented by the Indian Government to the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Fumio Kishida.
Team EkiBeki
Welcome to our vibrant community from diverse backgrounds, united by a common passion – the revival of artforms and the empowerment of artisans. At EkiBeki, we believe in the transformative power of creativity and the positive impact it can have on both individuals and communities.
EkiBeki is an equal opportunity employer, our team is a mosaic of talents that bring together different backgrounds and expertise, diverse locations and ages. All dedicated to the cause of sustaining Indian traditional artforms and supporting artisans in their livelihoods.
Advisory board
The EkiBeki Advisory Board is a distinguished assembly of thought leaders and experts who guide and enrich our mission at EkiBeki. Meet the individuals who form the backbone, guiding us on a journey of meaningful impact and transformative change. Together, we navigate the intersection of tradition and innovation, striving for a future where art thrives, and artisans flourish.
Pallavi Kanchan
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Pallavi Kanchan has 20+ years in banking with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd, Standard Chartered Bank, and ANZ Grindlays Bank.
She advocates for diversity and women’s empowerment, and now works in the social sector focusing on revitalizing India's folk arts, helping generate sustainable livelihoods for artisans, and providing education to underprivileged communities.
Pallavi serves as an independent director on multiple boards, including Axis Finance (2023–present), Purearth Infrastructure (2023–present), and SBM Bank (2024–present). She is also a trustee at Canara Robeco Mutual Fund (2024–present), SBM Bank (India) Limited (2024 - present) and Karta Initiative India Foundation (2022–present).
Join us?
EkiBeki is an equal opportunity employer, whether you belong to urban India or elsewhere. We often create employment opportunities for members of the artisan families, based on their own expertise and inclinations.
We are also volunteer driven, and we could always use your help for exhibitions and workshops we conduct for corporates. Training is provided in house, and this is a great opportunity for those looking to give back to society in ways beyond the usual.
