Block Makers of Pethapur

Introduction

Origin

People

Tools

Products

A sight one sees is wood dust crumbling away, leaving an intricate design behind, and symbolizing how the fading eyes and wrinkled hands are trying to hold on to a craft degenerating under sharp laser cutes and digital images leaving behind a marvel that gives riches to other crafts. The village has seen better days but ironically block printing still flourishes. The block carvers have decreased, the younger generations are choosing more profitable careers but there is still plenty of work. Govind bhai Prajapati wants to propagate his art to the following generations but they are not interested and he feels that they lack patience. He is teaching the art to his nephew but criticizing his work and lack of perfection all the way.

In few decades, growing effects of globalization have wrought irrevocable changes upon this traditional craft. Govindbhai Prajapati says he has enough work and his long term customers keep on giving him orders even if he doesn’t want to work. The art isn’t really dying. Craftsmen use a hand drill arrangement involving a bow and driller to drill out the larger portions from the block. The craftsman is strong enough financially to afford electric drill and other tools but he sticks to his ages old techniques and he enjoys doing that. The artisans themselves make the basic carving tools since years and the tradition still continues He doesn’t realize how time passes when he is carving a block, he is so much involved in the process of making blocks.

The block makers always have got the liberty to shape, color and finish local wood into fascinating blocks. They are not designers but compositions come out as they sit elegantly with their wooden block and chisels. We can here an orchestra of sandstone polishing teak and chisels chipping away meticulously. The precision is such that lines almost one millimeter thin and so close together are done perfectly. Block makers give shape to their imagination through their hand carved blocks. They are so independent that they don’t like being bossed around by anybody. Govindbhai Prajapati says that he doesn’t want to do a job, he will earn whatever he can on his talent, skill and vigor.

Earlier the block makers used to make all the decisions about the design of the block, there used to be sketch makers who charged up to 2000 bucks for making designs for the blocks. Now the designs are made as per choice of the printers and designs are even provided by them to the block makers who just have to replicate them, they are getting less opportunities to unleash their creativity.

The skillful art of these gifted craftsmen will continue to live on as long as it is combined with unique aesthetics of contemporary designers and celebrated by craft conscious customers. Most of the block makers used to be suthars earlier but now the trend has changed and they are not the only ones who pursue this art. They draw the design first on paper and then through tracing paper they transfer the design on wood. Valsadi wood is used for the same as proves to be a strong base which doesn’t absorb water, nor does it distort in shape or size. Wooden block is painted white and design is traced on it to increase contrast and visibility. Earlier khadi and ghadi were used with chalk to paint the surface white but now poster color is used along with fevicol. There is very little mess, just the wooden chips and dust. It can be done on a kitchen table. Govind bhai explains that most of his designs are based on a graph, proper grid and his compass is his most important tool. A number of blocks may be required for a single motif based on the number of colors and single mistake would render the block useless. Like the pattern of raindrops on the window, like the beating of gentle drums, a rhythmic, repetitive pattern is formed.