AGRA, INDIA, November 5, 2025 — NOVICA today announced with deep sorrow the passing of Gulam Rasool (1940 – 2025), one of India’s most celebrated jali (openwork) marble and soapstone artisans and among the most senior master artisans featured in the U.S.-based fair trade network connecting artisans to global markets. Mr. Rasool passed away peacefully at his home in Agra on October 9 at the age of 85.
“I hold such fond memories of Gulam ji, ever so humble and jovial, proud of his heritage of stone carving and full of stories and anecdotes about his youth…. Even as he grew older and weaker, his spirit stayed strong, as did his passion for his craft,” commented Anvita Malhotra, NOVICA’s national representative in India.
A quiet perfectionist revered among craftspeople and collectors alike, for more than six decades, Mr. Rasool devoted his life to the intricate art of jali carving — transforming solid blocks of marble and soapstone into delicate screens, jewelry boxes, candleholders, and other heirloom pieces admired worldwide. His work captured the spirit of Mughal architecture and embodied the patience, precision, and devotion that defined his life’s craft.
“Gulam Rasool stood for everything NOVICA works to protect — traditional arts, cultural legacy, master craftsmanship, and empowering artisans through fair-trade partnerships,” said Roberto Milk, cofounder and CEO of NOVICA. “His success and legacy live in the openwork he carved, in the many artisans he trained, and in the beauty he brought to the world, now forever memorialized in the unique decor treasures enhancing thousands of homes around the world.”
Born in 1940 in Agra, Mr. Rasool learned marble carving from his father, an award-winning sculptor renowned for his mastery of jali. After years of apprenticeship, he established his own workshop and earned national recognition with the Uttar Pradesh State Award in 1982 and the Braj Ratan Award in 1993 for excellence in stonework. Through a government-certified training center, he mentored more than 50 artisans, ensuring the continuation of India’s historic craft traditions.
“At first, carving felt like just another skill that I was expected to learn,” Mr. Rasool once reflected. “But gradually, I began to understand the depth of it — the generations of knowledge my father was passing down by hand, not by book. When I opened my own workshop, I felt a deep responsibility not only to preserve what my father taught me, but to breathe new life into it.”
“I especially remember our visit to Agra — how Gulam would guide us through the narrow, lively alleys bustling with morning bazaars,” said Tiali Jamir, region coordinator of NOVICA’s Artisan Empowerment Hub in India. “His kindness, humility, and connection to the craft never faded.”
Even in his later years, Mr. Rasool remained active within the NOVICA community. In September he served as the Artisan Guide for NOVICA’s quarterly Undiscovered Artisan Box, sharing the art and history of jali carving with thousands of subscribers worldwide.
“He lived his legacy,” said Una McClure, brand director at NOVICA. “His story is part of the NOVICA story, and we will miss him deeply.”
About NOVICA: Founded in 1999, NOVICA is the world’s largest online fair-trade marketplace empowering artisans across the globe. With regional Artisan Empowerment Hubs in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, NOVICA connects master craftspeople directly with customers, ensuring fair prices, sustainable livelihoods, and the preservation of cultural traditions.
