‘Age is not a limit for Lajwanti Phulkari’ 

By Diksha Kanwar and Ayushi Dua

30 August 2019

New Delhi : Lajwanti Phulkari, a 65-year old woman with a weak yet focused
eyesight is proving to the world that age as a matter of fact doesn’t matter. She
works wonders with her own hands, pushing needles and making beautiful
patterns with such precision that can put youngsters to shame.

Phulkari, which is not her family name but a surname she has taken up to
emphasize on creativity that her work portrays. She has been working since
childhood and claims to have learned the art of Phulkari by herself watching her
parents work. She believes that traditional work can never lose importance no
matter the number of different products that hit the market.

India being a country with a rich cultural heritage, handicrafts from different
states hold a lot of importance. Phulkari is a colourful and vibrant pattern of
floral and geometric designs imprinted on dupattas, sarees and suits belonging
to Patiala, Punjab.
“I was born in Patiala and have grown up in a place where Phulkari was born
too, this gives me a sort of connection and makes me feel responsible for
making it reach new heights with the help of my work”, she said. 

As an independent artist creativity is not the only way to success ,it requires
hard work, technical skills and capital which is more difficult nowadays as
many private shops are popping up. She has also appealed to the officials to
make sure that the market does not become a source for private business .

These private owners pay a lot more than people employed by the government
in order to maintain their places permanently, Lajwanti works only under the
government and doesn’t believe in private businesses much, she told us when
asked about her stall at Dilli Haat, INA.

“I am here for only 15 days and have paid an amount of Rs.9000 for the stall,
these private owners hold their places permanently by giving lakhs of rupees
and earn way more than we do, because they charge double prices for products
that are bought from another shop and not hand-made like ours”.
‘’We also believe in working with our own hands and not depending on
machines which is easier. That is because when you work yourself, you
preserve the essence of Phulkari’’.   Hand work require more time and needs to
be more precise and thus our work is appreciated more. 

Lajwanti agrees that she has been able to make her work better known to the
people after being affiliated with the Craft Council Of India that encouraged her
to travel around more in order to expand. Staying at home and selling from
there helped but it wasn’t enough to gain the recognition that Lajwanti deserved
and thus with the recommendations and aid of the Craft Council she started
traveling and is now finally set on the right direction that would lead her to her
destination of recognition.

‘’I am leaving for Mumbai next, where we’re organizing an exhibition to

display our work’’, says an enthusiastic Lajwanti who has deep dedication
towards her work and values the recognition she has received more than the
money she is paid.

Lajwanti working on a phulkari saree at her Dilli Haat stall.

Photo credits- Diksha Kanwar.