Nanuben was born in Dabro, in the Tharparkar region of Sindh. Her father was a weaver and farmer, and they had no access to school. Whatever reading and writing she can manage now she learned from Kala Raksha literacy classes. Nanuben learned suf and khaarek embroidery from her sister-in-law when her third son was young, in the Jura camp after the community migrated from Pakistan. Prior to that, embroidery was not a major component of dowries, but optional.

Once she learned embroidery, Nanuben started to earn. She worked for Shrujan for several years, then joined Kala Raksha. For three years, Nanuben was on Kala Raksha staff as pre-school assistant and cook. She has also participated in a patchwork class taught by colleague Raniben Bhika, and taken workshops with Designer Latha Tummuru (Hyderabad). Nanuben was the first Kala Raksha artisan to leave the village to attend an exhibition. She has been to Delhi twice, and to Banglaore. Now a widow, Nanuben does not usually venture out these days, but she took the opportunity to be the first of Sumrasar artisans to attend KRV.