Namaste! My name is Damabhai Marwada. I live in Khavda village 70 km north of Bhuj. I live with my Wife, Mother, Father and my 2 brothers in a joint family. I come from Marwada community living in Khavda for generations and engaged with leather work, seasonal farming and various other manual works. I'm 23 years old (2019) and studied only up to 9th standard and after dropping out of school, I started working in farms which was physically hard and challenging as it's rain based and the region where I live is dry and rain is unpredictable and hardly enough for farming. so 5 years ago, I decided to learn  Kharad (traditional rug weaving) which has been practiced in my distant family for generations but unfortunately today there are only 3 families left in Kutch who practice this craft on nomadic loom, using sheep and camel wool. For the past 4 years I worked for Tejsibhai (National Award Winner Rug Weaver) in Kukma village (80km far from my family home) but after getting married last year, I decided to stay closer to my family in Khavda village so that I can develop my small business and stay closer to my family which is very important for me. However Khavda is quite far and out of reach of many visitors (my potential customers) Being a small and independent rug weaver is quite challenging these days when everyone is buying products online or from famous shops/outlets. 

Fortunately I found this great initiative "United Artisans of Kutch" where my story and my rugs can reach to my potential customers who would admire what I have been creating. I have dream to develop this craft and find space in the market and take this traditional craft to national and international level. 

In year 2021, the story piece I have woven about "Banni Grassland" -  won me an award of Rs.1 Lac from INTACH (Delhi) and in year 2024 I won another prestigious award from Gujarat Government for weaving "Biodiversity Tree" wall hanging, both stories and theme designed by Kuldip Gadhvi. 

Another piece "The Last Fish" describing safeguarding biocultural diversity, accepted in Action Agenda for Nature and People (Convention on Biodiversity UNEP). This is how our team work has made a big difference in my life and hopefully I could contiue making living our of Rug weaving and pass it down to the next generation.

I hope you will enjoy seeing my Rugs, wall hangings and few special pieces. Please visit me, my family in Khavda village if you are ever traveling to Kutch, Gujarat. 

Damabhai @ United Artisans of Kutch

p.s. I design my own rugs following my own understanding of designing and inspirations but I can also create rug/carpet if you have your own unique designs. :)