Hamirpur: January 26 (QNN)
Kartar Singh Saunkhale of Nauhangi village of the district was conferred with Padam Shri award this year. His hobby of making bamboo wood miniatures in glass bottles had given him the distinction of being conferred with the Padma Shri honour.
Born to father Paras Ram and mother Janaki Devi in Natred village of Galore later shifted to Nauhangi village, Kartar Singh was the youngest of three brothers and four sisters. His wife Sunita is a school lecturer and son Ketan is a physiotherapist. Kartar Singh said that he loved to accept challenges from childhood and used to do sporadic technical work himself.
In a way, Jack of All Trades Kartar Singh’s first wooden work was of a uprooted tree root. Recalling that he said that he was sitting in the courtyard of the house and saw a tree uprooted due to the strong wind in front, and its appearance was of a lion head which was still adorning his art gallery.
He then started making bamboo arte facts. He said that around year 2000, he started making miniature carving in glass bottles. Encouraged by first success, Kartar Singh did not look back and now his bamboo creations bagged one of the most coveted Padam Shri award for him.
He said that he wanted to train local craftsmen so that they could earn good livelihood and improve their economy.