He won the National award in 1993 for excellence in Palm Leaf engraving, Chandrasekhar Das hails from the Das clan of weavers in Orissa. He was also a State Award winner in 1987. As a teenager, he abandoned school and impatiently asked to join his father as a weaver at the looms. When 27 years old, he was drawn to the art of palm leaf engraving and sought a guru to perfect the skill. It took him thirteen years before he perfected the  art and  was recognised as a Master  in  his State of  Orissa. Shortly thereafter,  he  received national recognition as well, and the outside world opened up for him. He lives with his wife, a daughter, two sons and their families. Both the sons work with their father.