Making delicate shola flowers, garlands, votive objects for the serpent goddess Manasa, traditional wedding headdresses (mukut for the bride and topor for the groom) and ritual Gomira masks, Gourav learnt his craft from childhood under the guidance of his father, Gurukinkar and award-winning uncle, the late Madhumangal Malakar. The traditional shola artisans use only the best shola for their work – only reeds that are thick, soft and white are used. 

Gourav, an English Honours graduate from Dr Meghnad Saha college, Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur, divides his time between teaching children online, helping villagers with their digital requirements and his traditional craft. 

He was just in his teens when he began to accompany his renowned uncle, Madhumangal Malakar to melas and exhibitions across the country. At all these exhibitions, their magnificent shola flowers would be the biggest draw among urban clients. After his uncle’s demise a few years ago, Gourav has been handling both exhibitions and the demand for ritual shola craft on his own. He has participated in exhibitions in cities like Bangalore and Mumbai.

Gourav follows in his renowned uncle’s footsteps and is trying to take his craft further. Though his uncle worked in the traditional idiom, Gourav has been experimenting with newer designs and decorative motifs. Though the shola flowers continue to sell out wherever they go, Gourav hopes their ritual crafts like the Gomira masks made from shola and the Manasha votives will also gain popularity beyond local markets.