Led by Master Artisan and Presidential Awardee Brij Ballabh Udaiwal, RangRakha brings together heritage knowledge, artisan skill, and contemporary learning through immersive workshops, research programs, and collaborative projects. Rooted in living practice, the center functions as a space where visitors, students, designers, and researchers can engage directly with traditional processes. Through immersive learning, living archives, and collaborative practice, RangRakha connects institutional knowledge with artisan wisdom, ensuring that traditional techniques remain relevant, economically viable, and culturally respected.
Brij Ballabh Udaiwal is a distinguished master dyer and hand block printing artisan from Sanganer, Jaipur, and a Presidential Awardee with over four decades of experience in traditional textile production. He belongs to the Chhipa community, historically known for their mastery of block printing and dyeing, and represents a lineage of hereditary craft knowledge.
His work bridges practice, research, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, making him not only a master craftsman but also a key cultural steward of Sanganer’s textile ecosystem, safeguarding the authenticity and securing the future of this craft. He played a pivotal role in securing the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Sanganeri hand block printing in 2010, a landmark achievement to protect the craft's identity and ensure its artisans receive the recognition they deserve. RangRakha has been envisioned as a continuation of this lifelong commitment - a platform where his knowledge can be transmitted to future generations while engaging with contemporary design and global audiences.
Awards and Global Recognition
Mr. Udaiwal's mastery of natural and vegetable dyes, has earned him formal recognition at the state, national, and international levels. These prestigious awards celebrate his unwavering commitment to traditional methods and his exceptional skill in bringing them to life.
1986: State Award: For excellence in double-sided wooden block printing on Bangalore silk scarves with natural and vegetable dyes.
1991: National Award: For excellence in wooden block printing on Bangalore silk sarees using natural and vegetable dyes.
2012: Southeast Asia Award: For hand block printed silk cotton handloom scarves utilizing natural and herbal dyes, embellished with gold outlines.
We invite you to actively participate in the conservation and regeneration of these heritage crafts, and artisan communities. Join us to become a “RangRakha”—a true guardian of colors and tradition. Let’s cultivate a society that is sensitive to the social, historical, and environmental dimensions of craft, culture, and ecology, promoting conscious consumption together.
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