21 November 2009

Block-printer and dyer, Gujarat

The 32nd generation

Musa runs a dyeing and block-printing business in north-western Gujarat, near Bhuj. He’s the thirty-second generation in the trade; his son will eventually be the thirty-third.

All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

4 comments:

Lesley said...

Thirty-two generations. Goodness, how long is that? Eight hundred years or so? Maybe a bit less if people marry young and it's always the eldest son who follows his father ... But still, how impressive!

Another of your portraits where I think the person is about to say something to me. What a lovely open face and warm smile.

pohanginapete said...

Thank you, Lesley. My rough calculations agreed with yours; certainly, it wouldn't be less than about 650 years. When I was travelling around India, realisations like that brought home the astonishing age of that civilisation, and just how young Aotearoa's human history is — give or take a century, Musa's family would have been block-printing since about the time Maori first arrived here.

Bill said...

I love this guy; this photo; pattern, texture, fabric; eyes, hair, teeth, skin. A refreshment to my vision.

pohanginapete said...

Thanks Bill :^)