Dilshad Hussain
A Moradabad master of nakkashi, the engraving of metal vessels, who has trained hundreds of artisans, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.
Dilshad Hussain is a metal craftsman from Moradabad, a city known worldwide for its metal handicrafts. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2023 in the field of art, from Uttar Pradesh [1].
Taught by his grandfather
Hussain was born on 17 January 1943 [2]. After basic schooling he learned nakkashi, the hand engraving of designs on metal vessels, from his grandfather, Abdul Hamid [2]. Even as a boy he could sit for hours with his eyes fixed on the fine work the craft demands [2]. He later attended training at the government’s Metal Handicrafts Service Centre in Moradabad to learn modern methods that could help keep the old art alive [2]. His whole family works in crafts, and many of its members have won awards [2].
Teaching the craft
He has trained about 400 artisans in Moradabad, and in 2015 he travelled to Iran to teach engraving to craftspeople there [2]. He has demonstrated engraving at many handicraft fairs to win it new admirers [2]. An engraved matka, or pot, that he made was presented by the Prime Minister to the German Chancellor at the G7 summit in 2022 [2].
Recognition
He received the Uttar Pradesh state handicraft award in 2004, the Shilp Guru award from the Ministry of Textiles in 2007, and a national merit certificate in 2012 [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2023: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 21 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2023: citation for Dilshad Hussain — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 21 October 2026.
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