Summer Stamp

Each year here in Jaipur, during school Summer holidays, Anokhi (the textile business) holds a Summer camp for children between the ages of 5 and 13. The camp takes place in the crèche  – an initiative started almost 17 years ago to support Anokhi’s young working mums – at the main Anokhi work site. For 5 weeks the crèche is abuzz as children of all ages are kept active and engaged with craft activities, indoor & outdoor games, reading, singing and dance. This year, block printing was added to the timetable!

With plenty of student-workshop experience, AMHP staff went along to help set things up in the Anokhi printing shed, conveniently situated around the corner from the crèche. The children had a great time and took the creative task of stamping their own handkerchief designs very seriously. Block printers, Shariff & Vasik, clearly enjoyed the whole experience too; and were more than happy to spend the afternoon tutoring such attentive youngsters in place of their usual work.

 

Shariff demonstrates how to steady the block with his little finger – a trick of the trade – then stamp it with the side of his other hand.

A chance to practice with the blocks; the sample fabric soon fills up with fun experiments.

An accidental work of art! Scattered animals and overlapping flower  impressions make a delightfully whimsical ‘painting’.

With handkerchief squares pinned to the table, Vasik gives a speedy but important lesson on how to print borders around corners.

Carefully trying out the newly-acquired knowledge!

Little blocks for little hands…… and a lot of con-centration from Mohit to get it just right!

A pair of expert helping hands assures the block sits right in the middle. It’s not as simple as it might look!

One final, satisfying “thap” and Vrinda’s piece is ready!

Back at the crèche at the end of the day, the children proudly show of their accomplishments. They had a great deal of fun trying to master some of the basics of block printing. It turned out to be the highlight of everyone’s Summer!

Text : Rachel Bracken-Singh

Photos : AMHP Archives