I have spread my dreams under your feet," Roop Raj Prajapat recites a W.B. Yeats line in fluent English as he takes you around to show his products. Exquisite in weave and motifs, there is a range of durries (rugs) on display and it is easy to see why the 39-year-old weaver is quoting the Irish poet. A Class IX dropout-he once secured a second prize in an English-speaking contest though-Prajapat's life is inextricably woven in the subtle colours of the carpets he creates in his humble hut at Salawas village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Prajapat weaves his dream and his fortune

Traditional Salawas has forged a sleek, new identity for itself. The transformation, it can be said, began 30 years ago when Shyam Ahuja, a reputed designer of home furnishings, realised the potential of the weavers here and decided to develop their skills. Taking 100 villagers under his wing, Ahuja trained them in contemporary designs while drawing generously from the age-old patterns of nearby Bikaner and Tonk. The largely illiterate artisans quickly adapted themselves and soon the art of weaving designer durries spread to half-a-dozen villages in Jodhpur district.

Woven from coarse cotton, wool, goat and camel hair, the trendy durries come in different styles and sizes. The basic classification, of course, depends on the pastel washes of antique hues or herbal colours. The price varies in accordance with the amount of work that has gone into the rugs but the range begins at Rs 60 per sq ft. Affordability apart, the durries are warm, easy to maintain and durable.

It is hardly surprising then that business in Salawas is brisk. Prajapat alone gets orders-mainly from abroad-worth Rs 15 lakh a year. He was a middleman before he set up his own loom in 1984. Today he employs 50 weavers on 18 looms and often flies abroad to sell his ware. The dollar earnings have inspired many youngsters to take up carpet-making, learn traditional designs and exploit the growing demand.

Facilitating the task of about 5,000 weavers in Salawas is the Rajasthan State Industries Department, which helps them hone their skills, secure loans and purchase raw material. Since most of the customers are foreigners, mostly tourists who chance upon the beautiful durries on their travels in the desert state, the artisans accept payments by credit cards and receive orders by e-mail or fax. Jodhpur Collector Rajat Mishra says the supply of power and water have also been improved. The result: the weavers of Salawas scale heights on their magic carpets. Step softly on those durries, for, as Prajapat would remind, you tread on his dreams.