In the vibrant craft clusters of Gujarat, particularly in Pethapur (Gandhinagar), the ancient art of wooden block making forms the silent backbone of India’s celebrated block printing traditions. Each block is a miniature sculpture—hand-carved from seasoned teak or sheesham wood, precisely chiseled into motifs ranging from paisleys and florals to jali patterns and geometrics.

Unlike machine-made patterns, hand-carved blocks carry subtle irregularities that lend a unique texture and character to the final print. The artisan first draws the motif by hand, then uses fine iron chisels to carve out intricate reliefs. Once polished and treated, these blocks are passed on to textile printers across Ajrakhpur, Dhamadka, Jetpur, and Surendranagar, enabling prints like Ajrakh, Sodagiri, Batik, and Bagru.

Often overshadowed by the printed fabric itself, the block makers are essential craftspersons whose tools and technique determine clarity, depth, and durability of each impression on fabric.

Block making in Gujarat is inseparably linked with the heritage of Ajrakh printing, whose history spans over four centuries and is practiced primarily by the Khatri Muslim communities. While the printing takes place in villages like Ajrakhpur, the blocks are traditionally sourced from the renowned carving hub of Pethapur. This village is known for its inter-generational mastery of block design, once patronised by the rulers of the princely state of Gujarat.

The designs often draw from Islamic architecture, Mughal floral geometry, and Hindu temple motifs, a testament to the shared aesthetic language of Gujarat’s diverse communities. Today, the craft supports not just block printers but also independent wood carvers, designers, and scholars reviving older patterns from museum archives.

Though block printing has gained modern commercial traction, the hand-block carving process remains a manual, meditative art form that upholds centuries of tactile knowledge.

In Pethapur village, the rhythmic tap of iron chisels on teak blocks has echoed through courtyards for generations. One of the best-known master artisans, Late Ishwarbhai Prajapati, carved blocks used by both Ajrakh printers and contemporary designers. His workshop housed over 2,000 wooden blocks, some over 100 years old, with motifs archived from decaying palace frescos and stepwells.

In 2014, block making from Pethapur was featured in a special exhibit at the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, linking traditional tools with modern design pedagogy. During the Kutch earthquake of 2001, several block-making families supported textile artisans by supplying replacement blocks, enabling the revival of handprinting in post-disaster rehabilitation efforts.

Today, block-making artisans collaborate with fashion designers, museums, and craft collectives, ensuring the technique remains as relevant on global runways as it is in the heart of rural Gujarat.

Any information on this page is anecdotal and based on publicly available details. If you're interested in learning more, click here.