Gulam Rasool, Marble Artisan Who Brought Jali Craft To US Audiences

India-West Staff Reporter

AGRA – Gulam Rasool, one of India’s most renowned marble artisans whose intricate jali (openwork) carvings carried the country’s centuries-old craft tradition to global audiences, passed away at his home here last month.

For more than six decades, the 85 year old Rasool had dedicated his life to transforming marble and soapstone into delicate screens, boxes, candleholders, and sculptures celebrated for their precision and grace — hallmarks of Mughal-inspired craftsmanship. Among the earliest master artisans associated with NOVICA, the U.S.-based fair-trade network, his creations reached customers worldwide while empowering a new generation of Indian craftspeople.

“Gulam Rasool embodied everything NOVICA strives to preserve — cultural legacy, traditional skill, and sustainable artistry,” Roberto Milk, NOVICA Co-Founder and CEO, said. “His legacy endures not just in his carvings, but in the many artisans he mentored and inspired across India.”

Born in 1940 in Agra, Rasool learned the art of marble carving under his father, an award-winning sculptor celebrated for mastery of jali work. After years of apprenticeship, Rasool opened his own workshop and gained national acclaim, receiving the Uttar Pradesh State Award in 1982 and the Braj Ratan Award in 1993 for excellence in stone craftsmanship.

Through his government-certified training center, Rasool taught more than 50 artisans, ensuring the continuation of India’s time-honored carving traditions. “At first, carving felt like just another skill,” he once reflected. “But I came to realize it was generations of knowledge passed down by hand — something to preserve and renew.”

Even in his later years, Rasool remained active in the artisan community. In September, he served as the Artisan Guide for NOVICA’s Undiscovered Artisan Box, sharing the story and history of jali carving with thousands of global subscribers.