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The Jangid Family of Jaipur: Stewards of Rajasthan's Superlative Sandalwood Artistry

The Jangid family of Jaipur has earned worldwide recognition for their exceptional sandalwood carving skills. With 11 family members who have been honored with the prestigious National Award for their exquisitely crafted artifacts, their legacy is nothing short of remarkable. Currently, the fourth generation of the Jangid family is continuing to elevate this art form to new heights, showcasing their talent and dedication to the craft.

Sh. Malchand Ji Kalakar

LATE MALJI JANGID WITH AWARD-WINNING DOLL (LEFT) & RECEIVING THE NATIONAL AWARD IN 1971.

Discovering the Master Artisan: Malchand Kalakar Jangid

Malji possessed a natural artistic talent and preferred working at his own pace. According to Mohit, his great-grandson, Malji was once crafting a wooden door frame when his supervisor reprimanded him for taking a break to smoke a bidi. Offended, Malji left the site. It is believed that the frame remained incomplete as no one could match his meticulous work.

Malji then began crafting sandalwood products, which gained him recognition for his beautiful wooden artifacts of deities, decorative items, and other pieces. There was great demand for his work and pieces as his work became more and more well known. In 1971, Malji won the national award for a Rajasthani doll he handcrafted. Mohit also recounts an interesting story about Malji. Once, at a gathering in Sardarshahar town in Churu, he met Shubhkaran Nahta, a wealthy businessman.

Impressed by Malji's craftsmanship, Nahta asked him to sell all of his pieces to him. Today, these and other objets d'art made by the Jangid family are housed in the Nahta Museum in Sardarshahr.

A LEGEND FROM THE 3RD GENERATION OF "THE JANGID FAMILY"

Sh. Chothmal Ji Jangid

Sh. Chothmal Jangid, a distinguished artisan, was awarded the National Award in 1973 for his Sword, which beautifully depicted scenes from the life of Maharana Pratap Singh. He is the proud father of four sons, namely Vinod, Mahesh, Sitaram, and Pawan Jangid, all of whom have continued the family's legacy and are now raising the fourth generation of Jangids. At the age of 75, Chothmal Ji Jangid is still passionately carving and honing his craft, setting an inspiring example for generations to come.

3RD GENERATION OF "THE JANGID FAMILY"

Sh. Mahesh Ji Jangid

Experience the epitome of artistry in the form of the award-winning Fan, crafted by the illustrious Sh. Mahesh Ji Jangid. This masterpiece depicts the idyllic and divine scenes from the life of Krishna, surrounded by the serenity of nature and the charming cows.

Mahesh Jangid's passion for his craft led him to relocate with his family to Jaipur, where he continued to push the boundaries of his talent. His unwavering dedication to excellence is truly commendable, as he created and shattered several world records. Today, he takes pride in watching his sons follow in his footsteps and continue the legacy of the Jangid family.

4TH GENERATION (MOHIT'S YOUNGER BROTHER)

Sh. Rohit Jangid

Rohit learnt the traditional art of miniature carving from his father Mr. Mahesh Jangid. Unlike his brother, Rohit is still studying. Although near graduation, he cannot dedicate to carving full-time just yet. He does, however, have a record in the Indian Book of Records for making a wooden house-fly and some national and local records for the same piece. In order to get his work exhibited, he participates in national and some local art and craft exhibitions. “Miniature carving involves engraving the wood on the contours of the design with the utmost care.

4TH GENERATION (MOHIT'S YOUNGER BROTHER)

Sh. Mohit Jangid

The Crafts Council of India, sponsored by the Kaivalam Foundation of Chennai, has been administering the Young Artisan Award since 2018. The recipient of the ‘Young Artisan Award’ 2019 is Shri. Mohit Jangid from Jaipur, Rajasthan, for his Excellence in Sandalwood Miniature Carving.