Dr. Ismail Khatri

Life here in Ajrakhpur is very much tied to the ground and the water. As Dr. Ismail Khatri, I spend my days involved in the traditional work that our family has done for a long time. This part of Paddhar Bhuj is known for its crafts, and we are right in the middle of it. The process of making the patterns involves a lot of waiting for things to dry in the sun. We use natural dyes, so my hands are often a dark shade of blue or red from the vats. Our workspace is open to the air, which is good because the smells of the earth and the dyes are very strong. It’s a quiet life compared to the city, but it’s never lazy. We have many blocks of wood with different designs carved into them, and choosing the right one for a piece of cloth takes a bit of thought. People sometimes come from far away to see how we do things, and we just show them the reality of the work—the mud, the water, and the sun. There is no big marketing team here, just us and the fabric. We sit on the floor to do a lot of our work, and the rhythm of the printing becomes like a heartbeat after a few hours. It’s a way of living that respects the old ways. We just keep the traditions alive one block at a time.