Three Generations Keep Stone Craft Alive in Raebareli

In Raebareli, India, what once took two days of chiseling by hand now takes just hours with a laser cutter, and a family tradition is thriving because of it.

Dev Shilpkar represents the third generation of stone carvers in his family, continuing work his grandfather started in 1980. Back then, every foundation stone, nameplate, and ceremonial plaque was carved entirely by hand with hammers and chisels.

Shilpkar joined the business in 2020, learning from his father while still a student. As the eldest child, he felt a responsibility to support the family as his father aged. His training covered everything from customer service to design work, starting with pencil sketches and gradually moving to computer-based designs.

Today, their business, Swastik Nameplate, creates stone signage for homes, government buildings, police stations, and major public events across Uttar Pradesh. Recently, they prepared hundreds of stones in just days for a large government program, working in round-the-clock shifts.

The transformation accelerated in early 2025 when Shilpkar learned about the CM YUVA Yojana, a state program supporting young entrepreneurs. He applied in January, and within a month, his loan was approved.

With the funding, he upgraded their computer system, bought new cutting machines, and improved the shop's appearance. The timing was perfect since family funds had been redirected to household construction.

Why This Inspires

This story shows how tradition and technology aren't opposites. The Shilpkar family didn't abandon their craft when machines arrived; they used modern tools to strengthen what their grandfather built.

Government programs like CM YUVA Yojana create exactly this kind of opportunity, helping young people invest in family businesses at crucial moments. For Shilpkar, the support came when he needed it most, allowing him to modernize without losing the essence of their work.

His grandmother once taught crafts locally, his father sustained the shop through family hardship, and now Dev carries it forward from the same Raebareli market where it all began. Next on his list are CNC and router machines for even finer detail work.

"If you want to benefit, first learn the work properly," Shilpkar says, a philosophy passed down through three generations now thriving in India's digital age.