A Home in Bagru

My project is incomplete without writing this story

“Good things take time”

Just need to have patience to achieve this-

Fig: 1 Namdev Krishi Farm — Bagru

My journey begins in a small village called Bagru, located 25km from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Where I did my graduation project for five months and my stay was there only.

The place is one of the textile craft centres, where the Chhipa community is practicing the age-old craft of Hand Block print in natural dyes/inks. Bagru is famous for its Black and Red color (commonly known as syaahi-begar) ink, Dabu print (as Mud-resist printing), and Jahota print (combination of bagru print and mud resist print)

And the other skilled craft, by the Kharaudi community is also practicing here that is- Block carving. These communities were incomplete without each other.

Every house of a bagru — is in the craft of blockprint and thus mostly organised workshops for people coming from abroad and those who are keen learners.

Fig: 2 Workshop guest with master artisan (sushila ji chhipa)

Fig: 3 Anup Chhipa with guest

Fig: 4 Guest with upcoming designer (nivanya)

Fig: 5 Guest with master artisan (Damodar das ji chhipa)

Whole family has involved into art of block printing.

Fig: 6 Block Printer

Fig: 7 Block Carver

Bagru is called as locally ‘Jugal darbar ki nagri’

As there is deity called Jugal maharaj, and in the month of April — the three days of fair is celebrated in honor of jugal maharaj. Where thousands of devotees came from within and neighbouring villages.

I was also grateful to witness this spiritual, fun fair during my tenure, and did buy some utensils/toys made up of clay.

With all these days going side by side, now further on…

I need to develop a collection for my project, but before that, I immerse myself into the lifestyle of local people and observe their routine, working challenges, feasts, way of working, talking, etc.

I came to know about the early and present situation of bagru through stories narrated by elders, and learned about traditional-modern motifs of bagru. Exploring other houses also for gaining and researching in depth.

Every single fabric with its process has gone through many hands, and each hand is important, those are:- block carvers, sketchers, block printers, washers, dryers, quality controllers, tailors and Trust. This is what makes one product beautifully handcrafted.

Fig: 8 Dryers

Fig: 9 Washers

Fig: 10 Drying fabrics (my favorite spot to capture)

It is always magical to look and very soothing by just — stare the grounds and the people who are working on the grounds.

I am a craft student and will be always, during my masters tenure in textile designing, we as a craft people went to many artisans for different crafts and more explorations, observations, and everything did, which caters to a designers work, not just a designers but all creative fields including photography, researching, journalism, etc.

What I feel most about visiting different artisans’ families is their way of giving knowledge to others. Some are very nice and helpful in delivering lessons, but some are rude, don’t want to share the knowledge.

Many of my colleagues also did their internships under other companies, and some are not satisfied at all, just because of not getting proper insights about everything which one student is in need of.

In learning, one who is delivering the subject, and another who is listening carefully with interest — Both need the same respect to go hand in hand and can develop further innovations.

Fig: 11, 12 Printing stories through lens

I developed my collection under guidance of Anup Chhipa and his family (I called him Anup bhaiya — elder brother) and he came into this craft business with help of Jeremy Fritzhand (who came here for a internship, and got mesmerized by place, craft and its people).

Jeremy is the person who helped the artisan in every possible way, connected them with buyers, uplifting them through their work. Each and every person in Bagru knows Jeremy.

Why?

Because he did so much for the people, and made them independent, by connecting to their roots of culture and tradition, their lifestyle, and getting mingled into families to observe community challenges, strength, and much more. After researching, he found out the barriers in the community, which have been solved with time and still in process.

Fig: 13 Jeremy Fritzhand (founder of Studio Bagru)

‘I didn’t meet Jeremy during my project time in Bagru and still not yet, but I can feel his presence through the stories often narrated by Anup bhaiya to me, which acted as an inspiration to me.

He is working for humanity, uplifting the backward communities, a true business man who works without finding any faults in others.

Most important is choosing the right people in the present world, which is hardly get — a one line statement for Jeremy and Anup Bhaiya.

Wishing them success for everything’.

So after all these going on side by side…

I started my graduation after some days of a date which was given by our Institute. So I was a little tense about where I will go for my project.

A little later, I found the place, and got connected with Anup bhaiya and his family.

Fig: 14 Chhipa Family

(extreme left: Damodar Prasad Chhipa, second: Sushila Chhipa, third: Poonam Chhipa, Fourth: Yogita Chhipa, and extreme right: Anup Chhipa and two more members which were not in this image — Shweta Chhipa and other one handicaped — Ashish Chhipa)

Anup Chhipa is now founder of Anaprinta Textiles Pvt. Ltd (Ana means — come, printa means — to print)

Fig: 15 (illustration of little child)

I know their family story, from struggling to everything.

And now with his experience of ten years, he created his own firm.

When I came here, I had nothing in my mind, I thought like that — Jo hoga dekha jayega (let see, whatever is going to happen).

Slowly I carried my work, under his guidance and it came out very beautifully

(I know you must be curious to see my work :)

VID_20251113_103553455

This is a Home- away from a home.

I can say this is my second home where I can come any time. The whole family is warm hearted and if some other person is also going, then also they will treat them humbly.

Nobody can do such hospitality as they do. Whoever finds them will always mean lucky themselves.

Here one can find every solution in terms of textiles, knowledge, experience, life and every single thing.

The bhabi, Anup bhaiya’s wife, made delicious food and served guests and family members with pure heart.

Fig: 16, 17 the extra troublemakers

I have special connection with these two, nonu and kanha (known as Nivanya and Nivika) the troublemakers Bhatiji’s

I have actually many ‘bhatiji or bhatijas’ but never felt love like these two.

Also people who came for workshops here or did before, always remember these girls. Small things always matters

Feel free to visit over here if you are a textile lover.

My journey here will always be grateful, I have learned many things from Anup Bhaiya and his family.

You all know it is not easy to live far from home, but here I can say it is possible.

Trust, quality, is the important thing, and that is what this family earned from lakh of his customers from in and outside of India.

Fig: 18 my last day of graduation work

After completion of the project, I took this photo of the last day while going back to college again for an exam.

I’m not writing this in just favour of them, but this what I see and observe during my time over there.

If you want to do some fun natural handblock print workshops or want to visit, then without any second thought, book your tickets and enroll for workshops.

For sure, I am saying — you will love it whole heartedly.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention my work over here…

A six seater Table linens, created in two coordinates — pigment discharge printing, and in Natural printing.

One coordinate in Pigment technique

Second coordinate in Natural technique

So, this is my collection I worked on taken inspiration from Kutch village, Gujarat.

Understanding of the process is crucial part in making of a product. We learned about challenges, design development, market trends, and many more things.

It is stated that — unperfection is the perfection of a handcrafted things. And it is true.

That’s my story of project, and also below I am posting about the firm, so if anyone would like to come upon and enjoy the beauty of place, do contact. Most welcome over here-

Address:

Anaprinta Textiles Pvt Ltd

Apna Studio Bagru

09, Namdev colony, Lal Kothi,

Bagru — 303007, Dist — Jaipur (Rajasthan)

Contact: 9799474072, 7891208928

And also the best time to visit Bagru is from October-March, because of winter season and work season.

Do not think much about it, come with your group of friends, family, and relatives to see the charm of the place in guidance with Anup Chhipa.