Belgharia Human Handicraft Development Society

Our society is based at 20a Umesh Mukherjee Road in Belgharia. It’s an old street with a lot of history and plenty of people moving about all day long. The building we are in has seen better days, but it serves us well for the handicraft work we do. You walk inside and you’ll likely see piles of materials and people busy with their hands. It’s not a quiet place because there is always some sort of work going on. We started this because there are a lot of talented people around here who just needed a place to gather and work. The light coming through the windows isn't always great, so we have some extra bulbs hanging around. It smells like wood and cloth and sometimes tea when someone brings a pot over. We don’t have a fancy reception desk or a person in a suit greeting you. You just walk in and find someone at a table. Most of the folks here live within walking distance, so they just pop in after finishing their chores at home. We deal with all sorts of local crafts, trying to keep the traditions going without making a big fuss about it. The street outside is always noisy with rickshaws and vendors, but once you get into the rhythm of the work, you don't notice it much. It’s just an honest place for local workers. Sometimes the local kids come by to watch what we are making, and we let them sit for a bit if they stay quiet.