Initiative To Document Vanishing Block Prints Of Western Rajasthan

Aparna Sridhar  |   25 October, 2024

Initiative To Document Vanishing Block Prints Of Western Rajasthan

Dr Madan Meena has spent the past 15 years deeply immersed in the art of Rajasthani block prints, focusing on documenting and preserving this crucial element of India’s design history. His journey began with a meticulous study of block designs, which he believes are windows into the evolution of textile design over centuries. Over time, he has documented 60 centers of block printing, each rich in regional and cultural variations.

Madan believes in institutional and public ownership of the cultural material he documents regularly. Thus he archives all his research projects with Kota Heritage Society of which he has been an Executive Member for the last ten years. Kota Heritage Society (KHS) has been supporting his Oral Literature Project and Sanganer Print Revival Project in various ways. 

Currently, Rajasthan has about 6-7 active hand block printing centers. Among these, only two—Balotra (100 km west of Jodhpur) and Pipar (90 km east of Jodhpur)—have retained their original designs and techniques. While these two centers share similarities in print designs, subtle differences in their recipes and printing styles remain. Dr. Meena’s research goes beyond these two hubs. He has surveyed and documented several other hand block printing centers in western Rajasthan over the past decade, collecting old wooden blocks and vintage textile pieces along the way. These centers include Barmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Pali, Bhopalgarh, Phalodi, Samdari, Salawas, Shivganj, Setrawa, and Dedawas. Unfortunately, over the past 80-100 years, about 50 of these centers have shut down in the Marwar region, and today, Barmer only prints Ajrakh, whereas 50 years ago, it boasted a wide array of designs now considered extinct.

Madan’s journey into the world of traditional block printing led him to collect blocks that are 50 to 200 years old, which in turn inspired him to revive these historical designs. His search for artisans skilled in traditional techniques brought him to the Multani block carvers of Jaipur, a group that has preserved the centuries-old methods of block carving.

However, his research revealed an alarming trend in modern block printing—an oversimplification of the process. Modern block printers often get blocks made for resist printing and reduce the printing process to a few simple steps, such as dyeing with indigo. In contrast, traditional printing involves a much more elaborate method that can take anywhere from 5 to 10 steps per design. This intricate knowledge is in danger of being lost as fewer artisans continue to practice the original methods.

 

To address this, INDICA’s Center for Embodied Knowledge has partnered with Dr. Madan Meena and KHS to document the hand block cotton prints of the desert communities of western Rajasthan. Together, they will publish a three-volume book featuring the textile history of the region and actual printed textile samples, with a particular focus on reviving old print designs and their associated natural dye and printing recipes.

The project involves three major aspects as listed below. These will be executed simultaneously to complete the project in a three year time period.

  1. Research and collection of vintage textile pieces – The primary users of the hand-block printed textile have been the rural community who mostly recycle it after it has worn out. Finding vintage samples is a challenging exercise as many of these are not with the museums in India, and may be with the institutions abroad. Therefore the possibility of collecting the designs is only through the printers who still hold on to the old collection of blocks and recognise the designs. There are a few chances of finding the old textile with the vintage textile dealers and user communities.
  2. Printing of samples – This will involve making of new blocks of the extinct and existing designs and printing on a hand woven Khadi textile. Depending on the number of colours and impressions, one set of designs consists of one to five different blocks.
  3. Compilation of book – This work will begin by the third year when the printed textile, research, illustrations, maps, photographs, videos,

Dr. Meena emphasizes the urgency of this project: “It is vital that we research and revive these traditional techniques before they disappear entirely.” His goal is not only to reprint these lost designs but to ensure they are documented for future generations. His forthcoming publication will showcase around 300 designs, most of which are no longer in use, preserving an essential part of India’s vibrant textile history.

This project aims to honor the legacy of traditional artisans and preserve the invaluable design heritage that has shaped Indian textiles for centuries.

Aparna Sridhar

Written by: Aparna Sridhar