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K.C. Sharma

"Hello, my name is Krishna Chandra Sharma and I was born on July 10, 1938, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. I started off my career in a totally different field. Having completed my degree in Civil Engineering, I served as a engineer for the Indian Army for twelve years. After my retirement from the Indian Army, I came back to my hometown, where the art of making brass artifacts originated many decades ago. I was enamored by the beauty of these artifacts and thus my journey of making brass artifacts began.

"I have spent quite a lot of time serving the Indian Army. During my tenure as Assistant Executive Civil Engineer, I traveled extensively from Kashmir in the North to Sikkim in the east to Bhutan and Nepal. It was a very wonderful experience. As a civil engineer, I was assigned to make several roads, bridges, etc. My profession as a civil engineer has somehow linked me to this profession of making brass artifacts because both these profession were associated with design.

"It was in January 1969, to be precise, that I took to making brass artifacts as my profession. As I said, the art of making brass artifacts originated in my hometown. At least one in every family there is engaged in this profession. Many years ago, people from China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, etc. came here to impart this art. Our villagers learned from them and this tradition has been passed on from generation to generation. I have been fortunate enough to be a part of this rich tradition. My constant contact with various artisans has taught me the technique.

"The art of making these brass artifacts is very demanding and needs a lot of attention and labor. Initially a block of brass is melted in a hard metal pot. The block of brass is then cut into various slabs according to the required artifacts. These slabs are then welded together. Because of this, such artifacts appear hollow from inside and are also lighter in weight than other such products. Then I chisel it with a sharp steel instrument until the desired shape is formed. After the chiseling is done, the rough or unwanted material is filed off. At the final stage, the products are dipped in a solution of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and ammonium chloride to give a fine finish.

"I have my wonderful wife Shashi Sharma assisting me in my endeavor. I am glad to have been introduced to Novica. Through this technology of the Internet, the artisan will get broad-based exposure."