Cloth Printing Wooden Block Makers of Pethapur, Gujarat

Dahyalal S. Prajapati (Dahyakaka)

Age: 82 Years
Craft experience: 65 years of experience

He is a master in drawing and tracing of design, making an outline bock.

At the age of 82, he assists his son in tracing and drawing of design, modifying design, billing etc.

1952: Dahyabhai started learning the craft of block making at the age of 12 years
1955: He started practicing craft as profession
1956: Worked for a Printer based in Mumbai for 13 years
1972: Started own workshop at Pethapur on rented place at “Ramji Mandir”
1995: Shifted the workshop at his house

15 karigars were working at his workshop at that time

Chetanbhai Prajapati

Age: 39 years
Craft experience: 20 years

Chetanbhai is a younger son of Dahyabhai. He learned this craft from his father. He started learning this craft at the age of 14.
It took three years to him for learning this craft. He has started practicing craft at 19 years of age.
At present he is the only one to work at his workshop.
Many visitors have visited to their workshop till date.

Dahyabhai and Chetanbhai both were often invited at NIFT Gandhinagar and at Science City Ahmedabad to conduct workshops

Glance of Workshop

chetanbhai

dahyabhai

chetanbhai workshop

chetanbhai

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Collection of block and Imprints of wood blocks made over the years

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Collection of Blocks and designs made over the years-8

Collection of Blocks and designs made over the years-7

Collection of Blocks and designs made over the years-5

Collection of Blocks and designs made over the years-4

Collection of Blocks and designs made over the years-3

Collection of Blocks and designs made over the years-2

Collection of Blocks and designs made over the years-6

Collection of Blocks and designs made over the years-1

Extended Activities at a Glance

2017: Exhibition at national institute of Design, NIFT, Gandhinagar (Duration: 2 days)

2019: Invited for taking workshop at Science City, Ahmedabad (Duration: 1 day)

2022: Invited to exhibit and demonstrate craft at GIFT, Gandhinagar (Duration: 3 days)

2023: Participated in workshop on “Capacity building workshop for GI artisans of Gujarat” organized at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar (Duration :1 day)

extended activities

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Published Article on our Craft practice by:

Dahya kaka and Chetanbhai’s work has been documented and published by India Guide,in a guide book titled “101 ways to experience Ahmedabad” and A handbook entitled “into the life of a BLOCK-MAKER”, by Heer Mandalia, a Visual Communication student from the United world Institute of design, Ahmedabad.

Author: Anjali Desai, Published by

India Guide Publications, Ahmedabad, 2016

A handbook, Published by a Visual Communication student from the United world Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, as a part of Design Project, 2016

Prestigeous Testimonials

Visitors from different places of India and abroad have made the visits. The visitors include people from various background students, researchers, educators, designers, printers, tourist guides and craft lovers.