വനത്തിലെ ഇല മുതൽ പൂവ് വരെഃ ഷില്ലോങ്ങിലെ വിജയ് ബിസ്ബാ

Tucked away in the lush landscapes of Meghalaya, I have spent the last 18 years turning humble leaves into breathtaking works of art. My name is Vijay Biswa, and my gift for dry flower-making was never learned in a classroom — the ideas simply came, and with my hands, I brought them to life.

I specialise in dry flower handicrafts, with my signature creation being the dry flower bouquet. My flowers are sculpted from corn leaves and palm leaves, gathered straight from the forests of Meghalaya — natural, sustainable, and deeply rooted in the land I call home.

A single rose takes just five minutes to make. My signature product — a stick of four roses — comes together in about half an hour, each petal shaped with practiced patience. The finished sticks start at just Rs 60.

My work has never been just about flowers. It is about people. I have trained housewives and aspiring artisans across Shillong and Nongpoh, including through the Sericulture Department — every person who learns this craft gains more than a skill, they gain a livelihood.

Like many gifted craftspeople, my honest challenge is marketing — getting my art in front of the people who deserve to see it. Everything else, I have mastered. Because in my hands, a dry leaf does not wither. It blooms.