‘I am afraid my art of block printing will be buried with me’

Shazia Mehboob

Islamabad: “My children ask how we will run the house system if we keep this art alive because the revenue generated from this artwork is not sufficient to burn the hearth of the house,” said master craftsman Haji Amir Bakhsh. “A little attention of the government not only can save this centuries-old craft from extinction but also provide employment opportunities for thousands associated with this craft industry in Pakistan. “The art will live on in my family as long as I live because my children do not pursue it as a career,”

Master artisan Haji Amir Bakhsh has kept the art of block printing alive for the past 55 years, but none of his children followed his footsteps due to financial disincentives.  

“If they [his children] sustain this art, how will they maintain the household since the proceeds from this are not sufficient even to light family hearth” added 76-years-old Amir Bakhsh from Kahror Pakka tehsil of Lodhran district of Punjab. Master Bakhash has been doing block printing for over half a century. Speaking to ThePenPK.com, Baba Amir Bakhsh said that this is his family profession with which his family has been associated or many generations. Haji Amir has so far been awarded many prizes and medals for his artistic services, including the Medal of Distinction. The master artisan has not only received accolades from the people for presenting his work in folk heritage since 2006, but has also won many certificates and medals of encouragement.Master Amir Bakhsh has also taught block printing courses at various universities throughout the country including the National College of Arts Rawalpindi, NCA Islamabad, Karachi Arts Council and others. According to Bakhsh, he has hundreds of students. Amir Bakhsh’s hand-made bed sheets, sofa cushions, dupattas, and shalwar kameez are very popular. Explaining his financial challenges, the master artisan told The PenPK.com that he borrows money buy materials from the market and after returning the loan amounts,  he is  left with fewer finances for his own labour. The material are purchased at the market prices but are purchased by the buyers at low price. If we add a middleman then he takes all the profit, and we have nothing left more than wages. Master Bakhsh says if the government encourages skilled people, not only can this art be kept alive, but it can also develop as an industry providing employment opportunities for many.A large number of people in Kahror Pakka were once associated with the block printing industry. But in the last few years many people have left the industry and started other businesses. The people involved have economic problems and  lack government patronage. The art of block printing is almost three thousand years old. The art of natural dyeing is centuries old.  The dyeing process use vegetables and herbs, most notably, pomegranate peel and jute. Haji Bakhsh’s love for his craft can be gauged from the fact that he was only 14 years old when he started learning the craft from his uncle. There are hundreds of students who have been trained and have a significant national and international reputation in the field.In addition, he has represented Pakistan through his art in many countries around the world, including Iran, Oman, Canada, and Thailand. Amir Bakhsh says that although “knitting on the block” is liked everywhere, people from all over Pakistan like his work more. About the popularity of this craft abroad, the master craftsman says that the products he takes with him on foreign tours have been sold out in the early two days of the event. The days of the event are spent explaining the importance of block printing to people who are interested in this art. Talking about low income and economic problems, the expert artist says that he has dedicated his whole life to preserving this art, but even today he and his wife are in need of support from others for their treatment and other basic needs.Bakhsh says that the block printing industry, like other industries in Pakistan, is slowly disappearing due to lack of innovation in this field and the unfamiliarity of artisans with modern-day requirements. By launching training programs for those employed in this field, the government can save this centuries-old cultural industry in South Punjab and Sindh thus ensuring the preservation of this ancient tradition. If we take a look at the block printing industry of our neighbour, it is obvious that thousands of people in India rely on this industry as a source of income but this is most the case in Pakistan. Because of this, the industry is shrinking and people are closing their businesses. Amir Bakhsh has urged the government to support this art heritage thereby preserving our cultural industry and in the process saving thousands of jobs of people who rely on it. Photo credit: Shazia Mehboob & Lok Virsa