The low hustle of the wind swept across the sand. A bird chirped as it flew by. A young girl across the road stoked the fire—the pot boiled. I sat there on the porch, taking in the glory of that evening. This was Khavda, my home. Long years had passed since my family first set foot on this soil. My grandfather came here first. A block printer by trade, he had set out in search of work. There was a drought in Sindh at the time. Reaching a small place he planned on staying there for three days. As word spread of him being an artisan, he was invited to stay longer to work. Soon, a wedding was arranged and he married a young girl from the village. Many traveled from Sindh to Khavda and further on to Dhamadka. With Sindh now away in Pakistan, we are the only Sindhi Khathri’s here in Khavda. Still today, Khavda remains the root of the Kachchi Ajrakh.
Back then, there was no India and Pakistan and people were easily moving here and there in search of work. He was asked to settle down here in Khavda and they had arranged for his marriage with a local girl. That is the origin of our family. Even the Sindh Khatris, whom you see in Dhamadka, first came and settled in Khavda from Sindh, and then they settled down in Dhamadka. There are no Sindh Khatris in Khavda now.
It is the grace of God that we still have our name in Khavda. Even today people recognize us as genuine producer of chemical Ajrakh. Wherever you ask, people will tell you that the Kachchhi Ajrakh is available in Khavda only.
Kachchh ji Chhaap 500 Years of Batik and Block Print, An Exhibition at Khamir 7 December 2013 - 28 February 2014
