I joined Tharangini in the early 80s. In those days we were mainly printing silk saris. Printing complex Pallus was my specialty. I used to combine a variety of decorative wood blocks to create elaborate designs, we were given creative freedom. Before coming to Tharangini, I used to work in a small unit behind Urvashi Theater. There was once a popular movie where the heroin wore 15 different saris in one song. We saw this several times for design inspiration.
I learnt about Tharangini’s free training scheme for women through my husband’s friend, and joined the team in 1988. Lakshmi amma trained me in natural dyes and silk printing. In those days, we used to go once a week to Srirangapattinam river to wash saris. We always keep the customer in mind and mix dyes diligently, even though at times it may take 2-3 days to get the correct shade. Lakshmi amms used to love parrots and draw them beautifully. Her favourite colour was 461 Green, which was the colour of a parrot’s wing.
Even though I joined Tharangini in 2008, it seems like yesterday. My family did not know much about woodblock printing, I learnt this skill after coming to Tharangini. Today I am a proud artisan, I show my friends and family my photos on Instagram. When you are passionate about your work, it never seems challenging. I feel blockprinting and handcraft will continue even decades from now as it is made by humans and not machines.
As a fourth-generation Bangalorean, my sustainability mission is simple: sustain this beautiful handcraft for the next generation of conscious consumers. I feel so fortunate to work with an incredible team of artisans who continue to inspire me every day. It's about adapting heritage craft for the future, while staying true to our core values and ethos."
