Overview

SharonPly, established in 1987 and known for plywood, decorative veneers, doors and related products, organized the seventh edition of its annual I AM STRONGEST Awards on 7 October 2026 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The 2026 edition carried the theme “CARVED IN STRENGTH: Honouring Generations of Craftsmanship & Innovation” and focused on artisans preserving and evolving traditional woodcraft.

Awardees and Their Contributions

The awards recognised five master woodcraft artisans:

  • Perunthachar Appar Lakshmanan – a master carpenter from Thiruvallur who has built temple chariots across Tamil Nadu, including the Tamil Ther at Chennai International Airport. He received the Poompuhar State Award for 2011–2012, authored ten books on carpentry, trained students in wood sculpture, and is noted for innovative wooden cars, bikes and household creations.
  • Dr. R. Rangachari Sthapathi – continues a 13‑generation legacy of temple chariot making and traditional wood sculpture through Rangachari Traditional Wood Sculptures, producing hand‑carved sculptures, decorative panels and architectural woodwork rooted in Tamil Nadu’s craft traditions.
  • S. Maasanam Achari – based in Madurai, he masters large‑scale wood carving using traditional hand tools. His family workshop, with a heritage spanning roughly 55 years, has supplied deity figures, Chettinad‑style doors and pooja mandapams, contributed wooden structural components to the Meenakshi Amman Temple’s Velli Ambalam silver mandapam, and exported carved pillars and deity sculptures to Malaysia.
  • S. Thirunavukkarasu Sthapathi – a graduate of the Government College of Sculpture and Architecture, Mamallapuram, he is celebrated for crafting temple vahanams. Notable works include a 62‑foot chariot for the Sri Pandurangan–Rukmini Temple at Govindapuram and a 32‑foot Athi Vinayagar sculpture carved from athi wood and installed in Nagapattinam.
  • Kumarasamy Ramesh Sthapathi – leads Manasa Wood Creations, specializing in traditional woodcraft and large temple timber structures. His portfolio includes 90 doors created for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, handed over in November 2025, along with other temple projects in India and overseas.

Corporate Commentary

Mr Vishnu Khemani, Founder and Managing Director of SharonPly, stated that a finished creation reflects not only skill but years of learning, discipline and experience. He emphasized that the I AM STRONGEST Awards place the maker at the centre, celebrating artisans whose expertise preserves traditional knowledge while evolving with contemporary needs, and that the awards aim to inspire greater appreciation for skilled craftsmanship and encourage knowledge transfer across generations.

Award History

Launched in 2019, the I AM STRONGEST Awards annually honour individuals whose actions demonstrate strength, resilience and service to society. The inaugural edition recognised wheelchair basketball player Malathi and social‑change maker Logammal. In 2020 the awards paid tribute to frontline workers who lost their lives during the COVID‑19 pandemic; the 2021 edition honoured everyday heroes supporting communities during the second wave; the 2022 edition highlighted animal‑welfare contributors; the 2024 edition celebrated Tamil Nadu’s Olympic hockey legends; and the 2025 edition recognised retired senior Army officers who continue to contribute as defence analysts. The 2026 edition shifted focus to artisans, spotlighting the skill, experience and dedication behind generations of craftsmanship.

Company Background

SharonPly’s manufacturing facility is located in Gummidipoondi, near Chennai, and is India’s largest plywood manufacturing plant. The company’s long‑standing connection with wood underpins the significance of the 2026 I AM STRONGEST Awards, aligning its corporate identity with the celebration of human skill that transforms wood into functional, architectural and cultural creations.