From 16 to 82: Sukhi Devi's 65-Year Journey as the 'Ajrakh Lady'

• Sukhi Devi, 82, from Balotra district, Western Rajasthan, is known as the 'Ajrakh Lady' for her 65 years of dedication to the traditional art of Ajrakh printing.
• Married at 16, she embraced Ajrakh at 17, learning every stage of the craft from grinding colors to printing, washing, and drying.
• Despite being uneducated, Sukhi Devi mastered the intricate processes of Ajrakh, including ghana, bodawa, khatar, kasna, bhantarna, kirana, kat, and kirchi, using traditional tools.
• She challenged the perception of Ajrakh as a man's job by teaching the craft to over 200 women, empowering them with this traditional skill.
• Her legacy is now carried forward by her son Ranmal, daughter-in-law Kamala Devi, and grandsons Manoj and Ashwin, as Ajrakh gains international recognition and is used by designers on premium fabrics.