Zakiyaben knows her family history. They came originally from Sindh. Fourteen generations ago they were Hindu and had Hindu names. The community evolved from Kshatria to Vepari to craftsmen. "Since then my father's family did batik," Zakiyaben says. And her mother's side is equally connected to bandhani. The family is known in Mundra for being orthodox and close knit. Until 2005, the 65 family members lived together and shared one kitchen. After that, they separated the families and divided the property.

Zakyaben's father was the youngest of 5 brothers. He was the one less conventional. He treated boys and girls equally, and supported Zakiyaben's education --and that too in arts. Zakiya had good imagination and interest in arts. She went to school, excelling in drawing, reading, English, writing, elocution, general knowledge, and enjoyed it so much she did not like days off. In 11th standard she was named Student of the Year. She received 2nd prize at the District level for Gujarati reading. Today she is beginning to read in English. Her favourite books are autobiographies- like Steve Jobs, Abdul Kalam.

Design is her passion, Zakiyaben says. Since childhood, liked to do batik. She learned by watching. She was always in the workshop and used to sit and do brush painting when the artisans weren't around. Her father helped her her, but as she matured she was discouraged. So she practiced after all the workers had left. In 11th standard she made a batik studio at home and now experiments there. She also does bandhani for income, and has her own bank account.

A good artisan, according to Zakiyaben, works with passion. She bonds with her art and gets lost to the world in it. Good design has instant attraction. You can't forget it. She believes that Art is identity. An artist and his art are connected. They introduce each other. The future of art traditions is in the hands of artisan. They decide where it will go. "We need to care for art for it to grow," she says. We need to have interest to keep tradition, but we need to be able to make it new for the market."

Zakiya learned about KRV from her cousin Shakilbhai (KRV 2009). She had thought about going to NIFT after finishing 12th grade, and applied to IICD, but finally opted for KRV. "When we think we know nothing," Zakiyaben says, "that is the beginning of education. When you go deep you know."

"I am very ambitious," she acknowledges. "I want to take the tradition forward, make something that is both traditional and never been made before. I want to found my own company. Bairaj is a traditional batik motif and that will be my company name - rule of woman. The logo will have bangles and a stick."