Rafique with the 'nose' spectacle holder (photo Geoff Crawford)
Rafique with a finished 'nose' and 'cat' box (photo Jacky Batten)
On the road in India
Classroom in Chennai

Profiles

Meet Rafique...

We met Rafique in Saharanpur, about 90 miles north of New Delhi, during our Study Tour to India and Sri Lanka. He supplies woodcarvings to Tearcraft through Asha Handicrafts in northern India. His 'nose' spectacle holders and jigsaw 'cat' boxes have become Tearcraft legends, he has sold thousands of items and the work now keeps 18 people busy.

But life hasn't always been so satisfying, as Rafique explains:

"I am 38 years old. There are four people in my family – my wife Hasina, and three children (all boys) – Ajmal (9), Anas (7) and Harshad (2).

I have worked for Asha since 1997. Before that I was working as a labourer for somebody else as a fitter (finishing the woods). At that time it was a ‘hand to mouth’ existence until I worked for Asha.

There have been a lot of changes in my life. Previously there was a problem feeding my family. Now I can feed them and meet their medical expenses. I can now even buy a television and own a motorbike.

Now I design work and cut the wood into pieces. I enjoy doing the design work best. The worst thing about my work is when something does not sell. If this happens then I change the design.

My family is not involved in my business but 18 people are now employed by me. Their ages are from 16 up to 53 years old, with an average age of between 30 and 35. The younger people are trained by me. I would like more continuous orders. Also, I don’t have my own workshop unit at present and would like this.

My dream is to have my own production unit within the next 5 to 10 years. Presently the work is done in different places and I would like it to be all together. My request for your prayers is for me to own my own production unit, for my own house as I presently share this with another family."

[It is explained that the people present sell Rafique’s products]

"I thank all the people who buy my products and thank Asha for helping me to sustain my family. I am happy that the people selling my products are here. One person can make 10 cat boxes in a day.

There are 5 brothers and their families living in the building. My sons go to school and this is within walking distance. They also get extra teaching. Asha pays for the artisan’s children’s uniforms. I pay for my own sons’ education.

My faith is Islam.

I encourage my son to study rather than to carve. My inspiration for the cat box came from a Tiffin box for a child. I made a box and was then helped with the design. I have lots of designs in my head. I have done lots of other designs like an apple shaped box and a letter rack. There is also a tree trunk design with a wax finish.

I have become the President of the Artisans of the Northern Province."

[Notes taken from interview with Rafique, February 2003]