Visitors admire the straw handicraft items at Guha’s stall in the fair at Morabadi grounds in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Feb. 18: Tarun Guha, 60, an artist from a non-descript village of Jamtara, would soon fly to Germany to participate in a fair to showcase products farmers design out of straw for him.

Guha has stocked a whole lot of straw handicraft frames at his stall at National Saras, Handicraft and Khadi Fair, which started at Morabadi grounds today.

Almost 450 stalls from various districts of Jharkhand and from across the country are showcasing specially designed handicraft items at the fair. The cost of these items range between Rs 70 and Rs 500 depending on their size and intricacy of work.

Guha has won accolades at various fairs across the country like in Mumbai, Delhi, Gwalior, Chandigarh and Hyderabad.

This retired school teacher-turned-artist has showcased his straw artefacts in 16 fairs with the assistance of District Rural Development Authority, which promotes self-employment among the artisans, and also the Union Development Commission, handicraft.

Guha has won the second prize for the best product at Mumbai Saras fair in December and the first prize at Gram Shree Mela in Chandigarh, while the Madhya Pradesh government has appreciated his straw items by giving him certificates.

At the National Handicraft Expo-2005 at Hyderabad, Guha had received a certificate from the organisers.

Guha has employed women, who make the handicraft items out of straw collected from the village. “There are nine groups, each comprising 17 women, who work under me,” Guha said.

Guha said that around 25-30 designs are made out of straw.

“We take out the long strip out of straw and paste them in patterns. The idea struck me after retirement and I thought of utilising my time through this,” Guha said.

Elaborating on his Germany visit, Guha said the state government had approached him for the visit.

“A 10-day trade fair would be organised in Germany from September 14. But I am yet to get the final confirmation,” Guha said.