Twenty-six-year-old Dhruba Jyoti Deka launched Brahmaputra Fables, a start up, in June 2017 with the objective to commercialise the authentic, indigenous products manufactured by Assam artisans.
“There is so much more to the northeastern states about which the rest of the country has no idea. In my endeavours, I hope to shed a better light on our diverse and eclectic culture through these locally handcrafted products,” said Dhruba to G Plus.
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Dhruba started Brahmaputra Fables from his own village of Sarthebari in Barpeta district in Assam, which is renowned for its brass and bell metal handicrafts.
Interestingly, Dhruba happens to be the first entrepreneur in the family. “My late father was a teacher, while my mother is a homemaker who weaves clothes and promotes local handicrafts and textiles. Maybe that’s where the appreciation for my culture and traditions took form,” Dhruba recalled.
Brahmaputra Fables is an online shopping portal entirely run and managed by a small team of people devoted to taking the authentic traditional products from Assam to the world digitally.
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While Dhruba was pursuing MSc in Chemistry from Pondicherry University, he realised the inquisitive craze for Assam’s culture and tradition outside the state and so began the journey of inception of Brahmaputra Fables.
“I along with my friends used to organize the northeast fest in college where we received tremendous response for our indigenous products. People belonging to other states used to ask us where to buy handicraft items from and that triggered me to promote our culture nationwide in forms of traditional attire and handicrafts,” said Dhruba, speaking to G Plus.
Brahmaputra Fables, by the end of its first year in business, achieved a turnover of Rs 25 lakhs. Dhruba was bestowed with the “Top 10 Under-30 Entrepreneurs Awards 2017” by The Indian Awaz.
His startup also made it to the list of top 3,000 startups in India, a recognition given by the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park.
Currently, there are over 3,500 artisans registered on the portal. From handicraft to handloom and ethnic musical instruments to cuisine, all things traditional are available at this online store.
These products are bought from artisans from places across Assam including Sualkuchi, Jorhat, Barpeta, Sivasagar and Lakhimpur.
The highest selling product on the website, however, is the gamocha umbrella made by Pathshala resident Akshendra Kalita.