Umesh Kumhar

Umesh Kumhar represents the younger generation carrying forward the living heritage of Molela terracotta. Combining hereditary mastery learned beside his father Dinesh Chandra Kumhar and grandfather Padma Shri Mohan Lal Kumhar with an engineering (B.Tech) background, Umesh has pioneered the digital transformation of Molela’s traditional artisan economy.

As the founder of theterracotta.store and the creative voice behind @theterracotta.store on Instagram, Umesh engineered a direct-to-consumer e-commerce ecosystem featuring 40+ curated SKUs and year-round demand. This direct platform eliminates exploitative middlemen, ensures 100% artisan profit retention, and provides sustainable livelihoods for family artisans and local village craft clusters.

An educator and cultural advocate, Umesh has trained over 7,000 art enthusiasts, designers, and students through institutional masterclasses at premier institutes including the National Institute of Design (NID Ahmedabad), NIFT Jodhpur & Gandhinagar, and Parul University. He pioneered "phygital" masterclasses by developing and shipping authentic DIY Molela Clay Kits (Banas river clay, wood dust, and hand-forged bhaladi chisel) paired with live interactive digital masterclasses worldwide.

His studio commissions include bespoke architectural murals and VIP gifting for prestigious corporate, government, and hospitality partners—including the Adani Foundation, Taj Hotels, The Lalit, Radisson, INTACH, and the Government of Rajasthan. His ongoing vision includes building India’s first dedicated Molela Terracotta Museum and experiential retail studio near Udaipur to preserve the art for future generations.

Documentary & Recognition