President Pranab Mukherjee confers award on Agra's marble craftsman

AGRA: President Pranab Mukherjee has presented the prestigious Shilp Guru award to a local craftsman here for his exquisite marble inlay work.

Rafiquddin, a resident of Gokulpura Basti in Agra district, was praised by the President for creating excellent floral designs on marble plates, table tops and decorative pieces for more than 25 years.

Mukherjee conferred the award on him at a function in Uttar Pradesh's Vigyan Bhavan last week, according to an official release by the UP government.

Rafiquddin was earlier given an award in 1987 by the development commissioner of handicrafts, it said.

Born in a family of artisans specialising in Jardozi (sewing with gold string), Rafiquddin was more inclined towards marble inlay work.