Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri, a Bidri craft artist from the Bidar region of North Karnataka, was recently honored with the Padma Shri award, one of the highest civilian awards in India. Quadri got emotional while receiving the award and thanked everyone involved in helping him achieve this recognition. He expressed his gratitude towards the present BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conferring him with the award.
“I waited for five years during the UPA government, but it didn’t happen. I did not expect the BJP government to give it to me. But you proved me wrong and I am really thankful for that.”
This is an interesting conversation between Padma Shri Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri and Prime Minister…
He says, “I expected Padma earlier, during UPA for 5 years, didn’t get.”
Didn’t expect to get it under the BJP government, but thankful to PM Modi for proving him wrong. pic.twitter.com/zpVRd0HLuu
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 5, 2023
Quadri revealed that he had been waiting for five years under the UPA government, but it didn’t happen. He was not expecting to receive the award from the BJP government, but he was proven wrong. He further added that he was extremely thankful to the government and Modiji for recognizing his efforts and contribution to the Bidri art.
Bidri art is an ancient art of metal handicraft that has been passed down through generations in the Bidar region. The art is Persian in origin, but it is a purely Indian innovation. The art of engraving and inlaying is exclusive to Bidar and has been practiced for over 500 years.
President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Shri to Shri Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri for Art. A master craftsman engaged in the field of Bidri Ware Handicrafts, he has invented many Bidri Ware articles and has trained hundreds of artists. pic.twitter.com/Xw1ImCr2Gf
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 5, 2023
The Padma Shri award was presented to Quadri by President Droupadi Murmu at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. Several dignitaries, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, were present at the event.
The Padma Shri is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service in various fields such as art, literature, education, social work, and public affairs. This award is a recognition of Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri’s contribution to the art of Bidri craft, which has been passed down through generations and is unique to the Bidar region.
…… engraving, and then the most artistic step i.e. inlaying of silver metal followed by buffing, smoothing, finally oxidizing the Bidriware handicraft by aluminum chloride and soil.
📍Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri, an award winning hereditary Bidriwari artisian. pic.twitter.com/cqWRnEE35z
— Emran Sheikh (@IMRANHA55AN) July 23, 2022
