Bhubaneswar: Pradeep Kumar Maharana, a craftsman from Belaguntha in Ganjam district, has been selected for the National Handicraft Award 2025 for his contribution to preserving and enriching Odisha’s centuries-old flexible brass fish craft.The award, announced by the office of the development commissioner (handicrafts) under the Union ministry of textiles on Tuesday, recognises Maharana’s expertise in a distinctive traditional art form in which brass is transformed into life-like fish that can bend and move.Maharana, who had received the Odisha State Handicraft Award in 2000, belongs to a family of artisans who have preserved the craft across generations. He learnt the intricate technique from his father, Ananta Moharana, and has spent decades refining the skill. Pradeep has also trained more than 100 youngsters from the Belaguntha area.“I am thankful to the govt for recognising my craft which is one of our state’s distinctive traditional handicrafts. My family continues to practice it and we have improvised it to create other forms, including prawns and snakes. However, the labour-intensive process and uncertain livelihood prospects pose challenges to the craft’s continuity,” he said.