Musa Tarmohmad Khatri

Ajrakh Blockprint

That morning had been particularly busy. Rushing in an out, shuttling between home and work. I felt a sense of accomplishment. As a little laugh escaped from thoughts, I pictured myself, a young boy, the day I had won that award. I had worked on two saris at the age of ten, and much to my delight it got me two awards.

The days were different then, we had to go place to sell. How things have changed now, now they just come to us.

We used to live in Dhamadka then. My grandfather, father, brothers and I, all at work on Ajarak. There were seven of us. Our days were filled with going to school, the ‘madarsa’, helping our father, traveling with him to Banni to sell wares. We worked together for a long time. Initially we used to go Ahmadabad and Bombay to sell wares. As times changed, buyers came to us and we did not have to set a foot out.

I stumbled upon many things as life took its course, through mistakes made and lessons leant I picked up the art. It was in my early days I remember when I got an order for meters of black and white checks. As I carried on with the day’s work, the fabric dried in the sun. On returning to pick up the dried fabric, I saw to my horror the fabric had caught fire and burnt. That was when I realized that black fabric was not meant to be left out in the sun to dry.

1997 was when I knew I had achieved quite a bit. It was the year I was able to send my mother for Hajj in Mecca. Moving to Ajrakpur in 2001, I have focused on natural and organic dyes. With the onset of that and its demand I have been able to get back whatever I invest. As years go by, work has taken a steady pace, taking a turn for the better.