Bringing the scent of Bengal to our Udaipur studio is our very own jewellery master Sukumar Malik.
The first thing you’d notice about him are his deep set eyes that sparkle like stones set in platinum, and next his genial smile gives you more than a hint of his humility.
With a pronounced Bangla accent he talks about the two great love affairs of his life- jewellery making and cooking.
Like a lot of other village residents, Sukumar had also started early. He had moved in and out of his village umpteen times in the pursuit of a suitable job. But it was in Mumbai that he was introduced to the art of jewellery making which went on to become his profession and love.
He had worked in an array of fields like a sweetshop, lamp factory, idol making, furniture making, building construction and many more, but even then he was sure. Sure of what he didn’t want with his life. No one had utilized or expanded his creative abilities. He kept turning down or walking out of numerous jobs. So when a friend from Mumbai decided to take him along to the city, he was obliged to continue working to sustain himself.
After a roller-coaster ride in the early years of his life, he was determined to make up for the lost time and he gave his all into gathering the art of jewellery making. When and how he fell in love with it, he attributes to Adivasi. At this point, he quotes Allama Iqbbal and sings,
“Khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqder se pehle
Khuda bande se ye poche bata teri raza kia hai”
(Make yourself so strong that before writing your destiny, even God asks you “tell me, what is your desire?”)
It is his puja-time and he excuses himself for the daily ritual of paying respect and praying to Lord Vishwakarma.
“With God’s grace I picked up the art and learnt it in less than twelve months” he says, not counting the sleepless nights and hardwork he’d put into it. “Now I have the will to be more creative in this field”
After seven years of working in Mumbai, he had wanted a change of scene. Yet when he was offered to join Adivasi, he remained skeptical. To keep his friend’s honor, he agreed to visit Udaipur for a couple of days.
“Sukumar had come to us for two days, but he never left. It has been 5 years now and still counting!” chuckles Shram whenever he introduces Sukumar.
Adivasi gave Sukumar the creative platform he had always yearned for. He finds peace in the forthcoming city of Udaipur, and exceedingly passionate towards his work. Unlike a regular droning job, he pleases his eyes and heart with this art. While talking about his art, he relates it to his second love- Food.
“Work is like food. Just like a guy wouldn’t like the same food every day, he wouldn’t want to work on the same lines every day. “
Here are some pictures that expound his talent.
This amiable man is a pillar of modesty and a site of genius. He wishes to grow as an artist and travel the world. With dreams in his eyes, he resumes transforming beautiful stones into fantastic jewellery.
