Rajulaben was born in Sumrasar Sheikh, to parents who migrated from Nagar Parkar, Pakistan, in 1972. She left school after 5th
grade because her mother was not well and, the only daughter, she had to help out at home. She learned embroidery from her
cousin Nirmalaben and her sister-in-law three years ago, as her mother can no longer do suf work. From then on, she has worked with
Kala Raksha. She has not so far attended workshops or exhibitions, though she accompanied her mother to Bangalore for a Kala
Raksha show when she was 8. But now she is ready to go anywhere.
Embroidery is important in their lives, Rajulaben says. Otherwise, they would be idle. A good artisan can innovate, as well as
skillfully execute traditional patterns and match colours. Rajulaben prefers work for sale to work for herself, because she can earn
as well as gain respect. She feels it is important to earn, so that she can purchase what she wants without hesitating, and she has
opened an account in the bank to save for her wedding ornaments. Rajulaben hesitates to hope or dream. But she wants to grow,
to find respect. She knows that experience is important. At home alone, she found herself losing confidence.
After graduating, Rajulaben has participated in
workshops to develop new products based on Kala Raksha’s
museum collections. She initiated the young artisans’
participation as graduates in the 2011 KRV fashion show. |