R.K, as he is fondly known, grew up playing with printing blocks. His early years were spent at the printing table and dye units at home where ‘Fardah’ the traditional block printed fabric was printed for sale at the weekly haat in neighbouring towns and cities. As earnings were modest, R.K’s desire to experiment and invest in design, colours and fabric was constrained. The family’s first break came when H.H.E.C. began purchasing the hand-block-printed fabric. There has been no looking back since!
R.K. first met Mr. John Bissell at an exhibition and demonstration of crafts at the Craft Museum in the early 80s. He fondly recalls that ‘John sahib’ picked up his entire stock at the exhibition. What appealed to R.K. about John was the latter’s passion for handloom fabric and fabric-decoration craft skills.
R.K began supplying garment fabric to Fabindia in 1989. By 1991 he had started working with William Bissell in Rajasthan.
Over the years, the product range Fabindia procures from R.K. has evolved from yardage to printed bedcovers, dupattas, sarees on mul fabric, silk and tussar.
Recognition, acclaim and appreciation of R.K’s workmanship has come in many ways...
The client base has grown;
R.K. was awarded the status of ‘Master Craftsman’ by the ministry of Textiles in 1987.
He and his family members have been invited to demonstrate the craft skills of Dabu printing at numerous Fairs in India and abroad.
The increase in income over the years has helped the family invest in design and production. The family now has ten printing tables, five ‘chowkies’ (as the women prefer to sit when printing) and dyeing and washing facilities, at home.
R.K’s parents have now retired from work, but his brothers, sister-in law, sons and daughter-in-law are all skilled printers and part of the family business. His wife takes care of the colour mixing, especially red and black, which R.K. says is one of the high points of vegetable printing techniques.
Though the family home at Bagru is now equipped with modern gadgetry and the children are well educated, R.K. is clear that the only profession the new generation of family members will opt for is printing and dyeing. He is, however saddened by the fact that the art of metal and wood block making for ‘Fardah’ will die with the last surviving block maker who is now old and infirm.
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