40
M
y father, Sitaram Chhipa, 76, says
datta
that is wooden
blocks in local parlance and
bhata
that is the printing
place are our only two treasures. He is a master
craftsperson and a recipient of a National Merit Award for
hand-block printing. He became a member of Paramparik
Karigar soon after the organisation was established and thus
brought our craft into the purview of national and international
textile lovers and buyers.
As a family of traditional hand-block printers living in Bagru,
my forefathers’ lives have revolved around creating designs for
wooden blocks, creating natural dyes and hand-printing cloth.
I have learnt the craft from my grandfather and father, while my
son learnt it from me. We live in a joint family, and all our lives
are anchored in block printing.
The origin of the Dabu print
and how it travelled from local
markets to international shores.
Ram Babu Chhipa
Paramparik Karigar | Dabu
Imprinted Forever
