MANOJ HAND PRINT Barmer, Rajasthan

RANAMAL JETHANAND KHATRI (DATE OF BIRTH - 16.05.1969) Near Panch Batti Circle, Roy Colony, Barmer, Rajasthan - 344001 HONOURS & AWARDS 1992 District level award 1992 National excellency certificate 1995 Honoured by State Govt. 2001 Honoured by textile Minister of India (Shri Kashi Ram Rana alongwith certificate 2005 Forhex award by His honorable Vice President of India Shri Bheron Singh Sekhawat 2007 State level independence day festival in Jodhpur by Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara ji & Governor Honourable Ansumal Singh Gayakwad 2010 Kalla-nidhi Award in Surajkund mella by Chief Minister Haryana Acquired first place award (Best selling prize) by taking part in hat – bazar Exhibition competition in various metropolis cities. Got opportunities for going foreign but couldn’t go because of pass-port. At present pass port has been prepared. Basically our family moved away from the town namely Thatta (Baluchistan) of united India (country before partition) and then situated at Bijorai of Marwad, which was a small town under the kingdom of Jodhpur where they were doing coloring printing jobs and agriculture. However after 4-5 generations due to scarcity of water they had shifted to Khairpur Dehaki province under the kingdom of Bhawalpur state. Khairpur Dehaki was a center of princes of landlords. Our ancestors had given full benefits to the princes and landlords for their art. While earning their livelihood, they brought the art of "AJRAKH" printing to the peak. Unfortunately during partition, our family had left Bhagalpur and situated at Barmer of Rajasthan. Here due to scarcity of water they were doing hard work of printing and consequently earning good. As there was a work is home, I too, was sharing the work of my grandmother since the age of 10-12 years. In the age of 14, I learnt to print one side AJRAKH. One day my father observed my work and thought that if I can print single side AJRAKH printing, why I can not print two sides. I side give me this job and I will try my best. Then in the age of 14, in the year 1983, I had printed two sides AJRAKH. My father checked it keeping in front of sunlight and found that there was not even a sharp difference as that of the needle point. Father told grandmother that their Rana will make a name in the field of coloring and printing line. Thereafter I also learnt block printing under the supervision of my father and also I acquired sharp knowledge of natural colors. In the year 1990, under the supervision of my father, I had tried to make two different colors, AJRAKH on two sides of cloth and achieved 100% success. On that Ajrakh I got an award of National Excellency in 1992. Barmer and Jaisalmer being excursion centers of world, apart from tourist of many parts of India, the tourists from foreign countries were also visiting. Bed sheets of Barmer printing as well as lungi (wearing style, presently in South India) were most favorite items among tourists. Looking into this popularity and good sale, sheets, from which we got encouraging results. My favourable item is Ajrakh Bed sheet for which I have been selected for National Award for the item "AJARAKH BED SHEET". The word Ajrakh has been given by foreign traders in their language i.e.Arabi and pasto. In 16-17 century the word was called in the word was celled in the name of "AJRAKH" at Nagar Thatha in Baluchistan State. At present it is called AJARAKLH or AJRAKH in Marwari language. The word "AJARAKH" defines with sky, space and universe. As stars, planets and some groups of stars are in the sky so are the designs in Ajrakh like these stars and planets. Their back- ground always remains traditionally blue in colors. The Sindhi Musalman likes this print very much. We begin to prepare the Meenakari Ajrakh concluding the two colors method. Our ancestors and their contemporary Artisans used to say that price of that Ajrakh was easy equal to the price of one tola gold. It was difficult to supply the items demanded. Artisans were in great number. They belonged to Brahmkhyatriya Hindu Khatri; Muslim Khatri and Chhipa Communities. They worked dying and printing art. Their main source of income was dying, printing and farming. They used the natural colors at that time. They work whole heartedly. They made items less in number but their quality was so attractive that everyone owned them without demand. In old time traders of Europe and central East Asians entered India through Kabul, Kandahar, Chaman and Peshawar to face Indian Art and Craft. They became very happy to see the Indian Art and Craft. At that time the work of dying and printing was dons at manufacture level. Several designs patterns and colors were used in manufacturing the item at large scale. Some time the experts traders found the printing feeling the express universe in one of printing in the sun –light, so they gave the name AJRAKH in Sindhi. They said its back ground is blue and stars and planets are twinkling. They are representing the round planets. These clothe were really "AJARAKH ". This information was told to me several time by my parents and parents which I had written it earlier. I talked to the people going to Pakistan or coming from there about the natural colors and Ajrakh, which I trying my best to distribute the information to the hestile engaged in dying and printing art so that the Art remain alive in ensuing time Ajrakh has always remained rare because it can be used reversibly as it was used by Sindhi, Muslim as lungi, gamachha and turban. It is not the work of every artisan only expert artisan can have Ajrakh print. Our family adopted this dying and printing art as a source of income and hobby. We kept this art alive struggling in Kherpur (Pakistan) before independence and now in Barmer, I Ranamal Jethanand ji Khatri learnt Ajrakh dying and printing from my grandparents and parents. I represented their stories in design on the Ajrakh dying and printing art.