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Our Artisans
Our Artisans

Artisans

HOW WE DO IT

Roma hired unemployed and economically challenged young adults, armed with a basic sense of art and a keen eagerness to learnthe trade. Roma personally taught them the intricacies of painting on leather in the family’s workshop. Over the years, by becoming a part of the Anuschka family, these skills empowered them to earn an honest living and provide for their families.

WORKS OF WEARABLE ART

A one-of-a-kind product starts with a one-of-a-kind story. Inspired by art and the emotions it evokes, the Basu family set out to give customers something different. Products made with raw skill and unwavering passion, each infused with deep meaning and thoughtful craftsmanship. What they created was more than just a handbag: Wearable works of art that bring joy to the lives of those who carry them and to the artists who helped to create them, and with that, Anuschka was born.

Meet the Artisans

Bivas Mondal

Arpita Majumdar

Tarak Naiya

Tapati Dhar

Nilkanta Sardar

Kaushik Banerjee

Bivas Mondal

Q: Tell us little about your backstory and family life.
A: My father passed away when my brother and I were very young, so my mother and grandmother raised us. It was very difficult financially, so I knew I had to get a job where I could help provide for my family.

Q: Did you always know you wanted to work for a company like Anuschka?
A: A neighbor worked in Anuschka’s workshop, told me about the company, and referred me to their Manager. Initially, I joined as an office pantry staff keeping the
food and kitchen areas clean, but I knew I had more to offer. I discovered what Anuschka was all about and decided to show my sketches to Bhaskar.

Q: What is your favorite part about working for the company?
A: I would say it is the love that I get from my colleagues .

“As an artist, I believe the mind and heart of the person will automatically get transported into an imaginary world, which is full of beauty and grace."

Q: Was art something you were always interested in pursuing as a career?
A: I never took up any formal art course, but I did drawings and art projects at my school, which was well appreciated by my teachers. Initially, I was a passive observer to my next-door artist neighbor and he was kind enough to teach me at times. Later, my seniors at Anuschka gave me all the necessary support and guidance to help enhance my skill.

Q: It must’ve taken a lot of courage to show Bhaskar your work!
A: I was so scared and shaking, but he loved my work and saw potential in me. He moved me to the Art Department and put me under a senior artist to learn from. I am lucky to work directly under Bhaskar and his mother Roma Basu which has created a deep sense of love and connection with art as well as the family.

Q: How have you grown as an artist since moving into your new position?
A: I am inspired every day by my seniors, the Basu family and the company work environment. Every time Bhaskar shares his designs, I get excited because he brings so many new ideas to the table. His approval means a lot to me. So I try to help myself grow and learn by practicing my technique and constantly attempting to improve my artwork.

Q: How has this job allowed you to help your family financially?
A: Joining Anuschka has given me a smoother life and a secure future. I can take care of my mother and brother. The Health Insurance benefits that I get from Anuschka has enormously helped me to treat my mother for her kidney problem. Being able to take care of her at her time of need makes me feel that I’m finally making her proud. I’m really thankful to the Basu family for believing in me and giving me the opportunity.

Q: Any parting thoughts?
A: I want to excel in this field, learn new things and paint better every day. I want to invest more time and with my efforts and others’, I pray that the company achieves great success. 

Arpita Majumdar

Q. Describe your role at Anuschka?
A. I am responsible for art checking. I need to ensure that the art perfectly matches with the samples.

Q. What’s your favorite part about working for Anuschka?
A. Anuschka’s good working environment, rules and regulations, non–violence and non–existence of political employee unions and tremendous support of seniors created the perfect place for a sheepish lady like me from a small village, who was struggling for a better livelihood in this big city.

Q. What 3 words would you use to describe the company?
A. Discipline, Non–violence and Art.

“Joining Anuschka was a turning point in my life as it helped me to take care of myself and my 5 years old daughter."

Q. How has working with Anuschka changed your life
A. Anuschka was absolutely a turning point in my life. It helped me to become financially stable to take care of my physically challenged husband and my two daughters’ upbringing and education. The pleasant working environment encouraged me to dedicate my entire working life over here. Moreover, when I had a heart problem and was critically ill the Company’s Medical Insurance gave me a new life by bearing the cost of the pacemaker and the hospital expenses. It was a blessing for my life.

Q. Which is your favourite Anuschka artwork and why?
A. My favourite art is the Midnight Peacock artwork. The beautiful colors displayed while the peacock spreads its colorful fancy tail, is a delight to the eyes.

Q. What kind of experience do you want a viewer or user of your art to have with their Anuschka product?
A. Looking at Anuschka products the viewers will feel happy, especially the beautiful colors and they will wish to possess all of them.

Tarak Naiya

Q. Tell us about how you started working at Anuschka.
A. I was enrolled for my master in education, but had to leave halfway through because my father couldn’t afford to pay my education fees any further. In the meantime, I got introduced to Samaresh Mondal who was an artist at Anuschka and referred me here.

Q. Do any of those first moments at Anuschka really stick out in your memory?
A. The day when our main artist Soumitra Roy approved my work sample and truly appreciated it. His kind words and approval means a lot to me.

“People may simply not believe that it is done by hand, the work is so neat and elegant - it will mesmerize them."

Q. What do you love most about what you do?
A. I just love to hold the product in my hands and see the art once it is fully completed, be it my work or anyone else’s. It is an undefined ecstasy for me.

Q. What makes working at Anuschka so special?
A. It has enabled me to set some money aside to cover the cost and fees to finish my master’s degree. Anuschka has also given me the opportunity to be independent. I used to have to borrow money from my father and he always gave it to me in spite of all of his difficulties. Today I feel really happy that I have become financially capable of helping my father and take care of myself.

Q. As an artist, where do you find inspiration?
A. I get all of my inspiration from Mr. Soumitra Roy, our main artist. I also believe in being regular and punctual to work. Being consistent at work helps me to be aware of everything that is going on in the workshop, and makes me dependable so I don’t miss out on anything related to my work or craft.

Q. What’s your most valued possession?
A. My work stool. It was gifted to me by my trainer here, Mr. Sanjoy Chowdhury.

Tapati Dhar

Q. Describe your role at Anuschka?
A. I am responsible for art checking. I need to ensure that the art perfectly matches with the art samples.

Q. What’s your favorite part about working for Anuschka?
A. Anuschka’s good working environment, rules and regulations, non–violence and non–existence of political employee unions and tremendous support of seniors created the perfect place for a sheepish lady like me from a small village, who was struggling for a better livelihood in this big city.

“I am responsible for artwork checking. I need to ensure that the art perfectly matches with the original art sample."

Q. What 3 words would you use to describe the company?
A. Discipline, Non–violence and Art.

Q. How has working with Anuschka changed your life
A. Anuschka was absolutely a turning point in my life. It helped me to become financially stable to take care of my physically challenged husband and my two daughters’ upbringing and education. The pleasant working environment encouraged me to dedicate my entire working life over here. Moreover, when I had a heart problem and was critically ill the Company’s Medical Insurance gave me a new life by bearing the cost of the pacemaker and the hospital expenses. It was a blessing for my life.

Q. Which is your favourite Anuschka artwork and why?
A. My favourite art is the Midnight Peacock artwork. The beautiful colors displayed while the peacock spreads its colorful fancy tail, is a delight to the eyes.

Q. What kind of experience do you want a viewer or user of your art to have with their Anuschka product?
A. Looking at Anuschka products the viewers will feel happy, especially the beautiful colors and they will wish to possess all of them.

Nilkanta Sardar

Q. How has Anuschka changed your life?
A. Working here has given me the opportunity to buy land and make future plans of having my own home here in Sonarpur. At this moment, I stay in a rented house with my wife. I am now also in a position that I can take care of my children’s education and give them a good life.

Q. Tell us a little about yourself. How did you start working for Anuschka?
A. I came to India with my maternal grandmother when I was just 5 years old. I grew up at Sundarban, a national park and Bengal tiger reserve near Kolkata, and later completed my degree in History. Before Anuschka, I was working at a factory manufacturing rail batteries. It was quite a laborious job and I was on the lookout for a change. I met Manas Mridha who is also an artist here and he was interested in my artwork. My family is still in Bangladesh, but I’m here in Sonarpur with my wife who is also involved with tailoring and stitching work from home. I have two kids – my elder son is 6 years and the younger one is just 5 months old.

“I never would have thought that I would be an artist one day, but learning art and now earning a living from it gives me extreme contentment."

Q. What’s your favorite part about working for Anuschka?
A. I love the work that I do, it brings me extreme satisfaction and happiness. Art and people here give me the feeling of a second home in India.

Q. What’s a memorable moment that stands out to you?
A. I love the Viswakarma Puja celebration that happens every year at our office. During my first puja, our company owner Roma Basu Madam was present and personally spoke to all of us. The moments shared with her will always be memorable for me.

Q. How do you spend your time outside of work?
A. I like farming. In my spare time, I plant vegetables in my garden. I also believe in cleanliness, so on Sunday I clean up my house so it always looks nice.

Kaushik Banerjee

Q. Describe your role at Anuschka...
A. I am one of the senior most artists here, both in age and expertise. I have a deep appreciation and love for art. Over the years I have trained around 22‐25 artists.

Q. What’s the best part of your workday?
A. It might sound bit silly but my favorite part of the day is being able to drink tea once every hour, which is 7‐8 cups per day. Tea gives me the necessary energy boost to keep working without being tired.

Q. You must have worked on so many items! Which is a favorite?
A. I love all the Lush Lilac items – those with the mauve and silver color combination. All of them are enchanting and a pleasure to the eyes.

“I am a self-motivated person. I concentrate myself wholeheartedly into the work and desire to keep myself happy no matter what."

Q. How has working for this company and this family changed your life?
A. Anuschka has made my life easier. It has helped me to settle financially and has given me a better and secured future. I am able to simultaneously take care of two families – my wife and children and as well as my aged and ailing parents. I feel extremely grateful and proud that I am able to help my parents, because my brothers cannot due to their limited income. My parents often come for treatment here at the Kolkata hospitals and I provide them with all kinds of support.

Q. What’s something you hold near and dear?
A. My most valuable possessions were all the prizes, the trophies and cups, that I had won at various sporting events in my childhood and younger days. I kept them together in a small cupboard in my village house, but unfortunately, it was damaged in a natural disaster and I lost them all. As of recently, I got a Ganesh idol from one of my students, Sanjoy Chowdhury, and that is also a precious gift to me.

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