THE RESILIENCE AND EVOLUTION OF HAND-BLOCK PRINTING AND AJRAK CRAFTSMANSHIP IN SINDH, PAKISTAN: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY

Abstract

This ethnographic study investigates the current state of hand-block printing in Sindh, focusing on Ajrak—a traditional textile integral to Sindhi cultural identity. Through field surveys, interviews, and structured questionnaires with eleven artisans across Bhitshah, Sehta, and Khyber, the research highlights the craft’s precarious status amid mounting challenges. Key issues include severe water shortages, rising material costs, and competition from machine-made imitations. The study also documents a significant reduction in traditional Ajrak patterns, with only simplified designs remaining in regular production. Despite these pressures, artisans demonstrate adaptive resilience by diversifying into contemporary products such as block-printed apparel and home textiles. The paper argues for urgent, multi-faceted interventions—including infrastructure support, market protection, and cultural advocacy—to safeguard this intangible cultural heritage. This research contributes to broader discourses on craft preservation, sustainable livelihoods, and the dynamics of traditional knowledge in a globalized economy.