Mohammed Hussein’s family has owned their own workshop since his grandfather’s time. Today, they are famous for chemical dyed Ajrakh, which is called ‘Dhabu Ajrakh’. Mohammed studied to 10th standard, after which he joined his family profession full time. He leaned his craft from his father, and is expert in all aspects of block printing. Of Mohammed’s four brothers, two are engaged with block printing while two are pursuing computer courses. Mohammed participated in a workshop with Indonesian artisans organized by DCH in Delhi in 2007. He has been to Ahmedabad several times with his father for marketing, and he once had a stall at Hiralaxmi Craft Park in Bhujodi.Mohammed finds old Ajrakh designs the best designs ever. “My craft is very important to me,” he says. “It is the heritage of my family and community.

Apart from this, it provides enormous freedom to function on an independent basis. Craft provides an opportunity to earn in proportion to hard work.” According to Mohammed, a good artisan should be conscious about the market. But in order to reach the market he shouldn’t become selfish. He must try to develop others, too, and should have all the humane virtues.