Wood, metal, iron, cloth, and more… if you put your mind to it, you can paint anything. But it takes a special skill and much passion to do it well. Many artisans in India excel at the art of painting many things. Unfortunately, not enough people in the world know about them. Nimmit’s mission is to change that by introducing the world to the humble albeit beautiful world of artisans like Dilip Goyal who can add life to anything mundane with paint.
In many ways the story of Dilip begins with the story of independent India. When British India was partitioned in 1947, millions of Hindus decided to leave Pakistan and make the arduous and hazardous migration eastwards across the Indus to India. On this tumultuous journey they carried with them little more than the bare necessities to get by; sometimes even less. Dilip Goyal’s father was one such hardy and courageous soul who was forced to move to the relative safety of India with a young family and old parents.
Dilip’s father used to make a living as a carpenter in Pakistan. It is a skill he brought with him across the border to Rajasthan and put to good use in an India that was building a new dream for itself. As part of his trade, the Dilip’s father worked with painters of homes. Dilip (and his brother Manu) cultivated a taste for the art of painting all kinds of things. Dilip, in particular, developed a passion to paint vivid pictures on anything he could find using little more than his imagination and the leftover paint lying around their small, ramshackled home.
Gradually the sons began to be recognized as fairly skilled painters. Seeing this their father decided to send them to another painter who worked with an artist of fine arts to create handicrafts that they sold to the steady stream of tourists who were beginning to visit Jodhpur. This was also around the time the business of handicrafts was taking off. Jodhpur, in particular, was developing a reputation as the place to go to for finely crafted handmade items of great beauty. Dilip had found his calling.
Dilip Goyal is today a spry and fit 57 year old. He has been painting hand-crafted items like candle stands, eye-catching boxes and tins that are decorative and useful to store small items in, wooden birds and animals, intricate trays and plates, and much more since 1972. His blue-grey eyes have seen an incredible amount of hardship. But it hasn’t broken him. He has survived. In fact, he has done well enough to support a family and employ a team of artisans. His is a story that inspires us at Nimmit to try and make a difference.
In many ways the story of Dilip begins with the story of independent India. When British India was partitioned in 1947, millions of Hindus decided to leave Pakistan and make the arduous and hazardous migration eastwards across the Indus to India. On this tumultuous journey they carried with them little more than the bare necessities to get by; sometimes even less. Dilip Goyal’s father was one such hardy and courageous soul who was forced to move to the relative safety of India with a young family and old parents.
The arrival of machine-made prints and computer aided printing is hurting and hunting down artists like Dilip Goyal. Nimmit wants to ensure it doesn’t destroy them. The world needs more inspiring stories like Dilip’s.
Nimmit is here to help write them. We seek your support and hope you will be a part of this uplifting journey. Welcome aboard.
