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Akhilesh Mani

"The three Rs – Reuse, Reduce and Recycle – form the basic principles of my work.

"I come from Pauri Garhwal in Uttrakhand. It is a splendid place of beautiful valleys surrounded by snow-clad mountains, often referred to as nature's paradise. I have been blessed to be born in such a wonderful and picturesque place. Being so close to nature has made me admire and care for it all the more. Every other day we hear about global warming and depleting our natural resources, and this saddens me a lot. While I was studying environment science, I took up a challenge to preserve the environment in each and every way possible for me.

"Since my childhood, I had a creative bent of mind. I made my first craft design at the age of five – a decorative flower made out of paper. Someone close to me remarked, 'You can be a good artist. There is beauty in everything; it just has to be modified.' From that day onward, I continued exploring with various materials – mainly discarded items, recycled paper, straws, grass, wires and wood, etc.

"I have been very passionate about my paper craft but it was very difficult for me to get a market for these eco-friendly products. I work alone and sometimes with my family members to make paper baskets, mirrors, decorative trays and vases.

"It's surprising to see so many possibilities with basic materials like paper, natural glues, colors and thread mostly obtained from scrap shops. Each design is personally handcrafted. I was very clear about the medium I wanted to work with, which is paper, but I gradually learned all the techniques through intensive research. My friend, Narendra Singh, who is an expert bamboo craftsperson, taught me the nitty-gritty of weaving. That added another dimension to my craft.

"Through my work, I want to spread the awareness about natural resources and ecology. I really hope my message and work will get exposure and appreciation through Novica."