Padma Shri Naseem Bano of Lucknow and the Timeless Art of Anokhi Chikankari

 

By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam

21 November 2025

Padma Shri Naseem Bano, Lucknow’s renowned Chikankari artisan, mastered the rare “Anokhi” invisible-stitch technique from her father. Training over 5,000 women across India and abroad, she preserves this Mughal-era craft while empowering generations, earning national honours including the Shilp Guru and Padma Shri 2024.

Main Points:

1.    Master of “Anokhi Chikankari” – invisible stitches on reverse side 

2.    Trained over 5,000 women in India & abroad 

3.    Daughter of National Awardee Hasan Mirza; learnt at age 13 

4.    Awards: Shilp Guru 2019, Padma Shri 2024 

5.    Runs training centres in Lucknow villages for women’s empowerment

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The city of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is famous for its distinctive Chikankari embroidery.

This embroidery has been practised since the Mughal period and has now become a signature art of Lucknow.

It is a very intricate and delicate hand-embroidered technique. No machines are used; the entire work is done by hand.

It takes anywhere from 7 days to 7 months to complete a single garment.

Chikankari work is done with great care and skill. It is often done on a variety of fabrics, including cotton, Chanderi, Muslin, Georgette, and Silk. Over 40 different stitches ('Jaali', 'Keel Kangan', 'Fanda', and 'Murri') are used in this embroidery, each with its own specific purpose.

Naseem Bano is a renowned Chikankari artisan from Lucknow who has earned international recognition for her skill.

She is famous for her distinctive "Anokhi Chikankari" work. Naseem Bano was born on December 1, 1962, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. She currently resides in the Thakurganj area of Lucknow.

Her father, Hasan Mirza, was also a renowned Chikankari artisan and has won numerous awards for his craft. The Central Government honoured him with the National Award in 1969.

Naseem Bano began learning the art of Chikankari from her father at the age of 13. Since then, she has steadily mastered the art. She has dedicated her entire life to the practice of Chikankari.

Unique Chikankari

Usually, when embroidering, the stitches are visible on the other side of the fabric. However, the Chikankari work done by Naseem Bano is invisible on the other side of the fabric, hence her Chikankari work is called "Unique Chikankari."

For Naseem Bano, Chikankari is not only a means of livelihood; she also teaches her skills to other women, empowering them to become self-reliant. Naseem Bano has taught this unique Chikankari not only in India but also abroad. She has introduced girls and women from Germany, France, and many other countries to this unique Chikankari work.

In an interview, she said, "I am who I am today because of the support of my family and the education given by my father. He has tried to keep the tradition of fine Chikankari alive and has also made it his goal to pass it on to young artisans."

Naseem Bano added,

"I have trained over 5,000 Chikankari artisans in this art. I hope they will preserve and carry forward this tradition.”

Awards and Honours

Naseem Bano has been honoured with numerous awards for her talent.

In 1985, she was awarded the State Award. In 1988, she was honoured by the then President, R. Venkataraman, for her outstanding work in "Anokhi Chikankari" on napkin table covers.

She has also received the first Handicrafts Week Award for five consecutive years from the Industries Department of Uttar Pradesh.

She was honoured with the prestigious Shilp Guru Award in 2019.

In 2024, she was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour in the field of art.

When Naseem Bano received the Padma Shri award from the Government of India, she said in an interview,

"I received a call from Delhi last night informing me that I have been honoured with the Padma Shri. My entire family and I are very happy with this achievement. We thank the government and our God for this award.”

Naseem Bano has opened training centres in various villages in and around Lucknow city, such as Malihabad, Kakori, Alamnagar, and Khadra. Through these centres, she has trained over 5,000 girls and women, enabling them to become self-reliant.

Naseem Bano's dedication to her craft has proved that success isn't limited to high-profile degrees; you can achieve success and create your own unique identity by working diligently at your job.

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Afroz Khan is a teacher by profession who writes on women, politics, communal harmony, and Islam. She holds a master’s degree in Education.

 

URL:   https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/padma-shri-naseem-bano-anokhi-chikankari/d/137722

 

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