SURENDRA MEHER

Surendra Meher is an eminent master weaver of Western Odisha. He is famous for his traditional Sambalpuri Ikat saree design and Tie-Dye Bandha Saree of Odisha. He graduated from Sambalpur University and has been practicing Tie & Dye (Iakt) craft as a master craft person for the past 40 years.

Awards & Achievments

He has received many awards for his lifetime contribution towards Handlooms sector, which are as follows:

• The State Award in 1987, 1988, and 1989 from Government of Odisha
• National Award in 1991
• The Kalanidhi Award in 1994
• UNESCO Award of Excellence in 2006, 2007 and 2012
• Sant Kabir Award in 2013 from the Government of India
• He was also honored with in DLitt title from Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur.
• For his distinguished contribution to the handicraft sector Odisha Government recommended his name for "Padmashri Award 2014" the fourth highest civilian award of India.

More About Surendra Meher

He worked to simplify traditional Ikat craft and trained 1000 weavers in his locality. He also supervised four different Special Handicraft Training Programs organized by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India. He has developed a number of designs in Tie & Dye Sarees, Dupatta, and Wall hanging based on Indian Tradition. From 1987 to 2014, he participated in about 100 National and International exhibitions. He has also published his article in various National/State level newspapers, magazines, souvenirs, etc. He has also published a book titled “Bandha Shilpi Ra Videsa Anubhuti” which describes the technique of Ikat weaving, which is now in the syllabus of Sambalpur University.