Honour for artisan whose deft hands weave magic out of palm leaves 

Pulicat resident and artisan Hamsa Beevi made a life out of the ordinary palm leaf. She was recently honoured for her contribution to the world of palm crafts. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin presented her with the Living Craft Treasure Award that comes with a cash prize of ₹1,00,000.  

From colouring to cutting and finally weaving the palm leaves into different items such as chocolate boxes, pencil boxes, bags and containers used as return gifts in weddings, Hamsa Beevi has received training from her childhood, and has worked nearly five decades with palm. “I learnt the craft from my parents and have also taught my six children. Though my grandchildren go to school, they too have picked up the skills and help us when they are free. Many other residents of my street, Karaiyar Street in Pazhaverkadu too work in this craft,” she said.  

Having worked with the rough palm leaves for several decades, her hands no longer feel the roughness that comes naturally with the leaves. Over the years, Aarde Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that has been training the women, providing them with raw material and marketing the finished products, has ensured that the finished products do not have sharp edges. Their products are sold at a kiosk outside a popular silk store in T. Nagar and also at the Athma Nirbar Centre for Design at Red Fort in New Delhi.

“Before Sir came, (Aarde’s Xavier Benedict) in, we found it difficult to get palm leaves. But now he procures them for us. The prices of raw materials, including the colours and the leaves, have gone up reducing our modest earnings. It would be nice if the government gave us some kind of monthly grant,” she added.   

Xavier Benedict, founder of Aarde Foundation, which has been working to conserve the natural and built-heritage of Pulicat Lagoon since 2007, said they started working with women craftspersons as there was no support for them at that time. “Apart from ecologically being an important tree, the palm also ensures livelihood of over 500 families Now thanks to the government interventions, cutting of palm trees has stopped and we are able to source the leaves locally for the 200-odd women, who work with the Foundation.”