Whatever I know about lime, I have learned in my village Sardarshahar in Rajasthan. My Grandfather used to cook lime out of limestone, so did my father. I worked as a begari, helper in my village around the age of 16, that’s where my journey began, understanding the ways and behaviours of lime. I understood that the trick lies in mixing, I understood how different uses of lime have different mixes. I got a grasp of that because in my village people extensively worked in lime and they still do. Then I moved on to Jaipur for two years, which eventually brought me to Mumbai. Therewith my uncle, I trained to become a mason. I didn’t get a single penny, but my learning is what was my true earning. I then went to UAE, Muskat and there again I worked as a mason only to return back to Mumbai. One day Vikas Dilawari ji (conservation architect based in Mumabi) found me and gave me the platform to work with lime. I have worked with him for 16 years and now for the past four years, my son Altaf is with him. He gave me the freedom and space to explore lime using the knowledge which I had acquired. For me it was commonplace, I had seen my family and villagers working with lime even as a child. Once the concepts of lime are clear you can devise ways to work around it. Since then I worked on all kinds of conservation projects in Mumbai and my knowledge of lime from my village was applied in the conservation of heritage buildings. I worked with the restoration of Bhau da ji lad Museum, Rajabai tower and Elephanta caves to just mention a few. These heritage structures were in pathetic conditions, dilapidated and ignored because no one knew how to bring them back to life. I successfully managed to restore these in their original form using lime. I was also acknowledged for my work and have received 6 awards until now one of which was presented by Ratan Tata for my work in restoration. I am here now because I decided to take a leap of faith and travel all the way in a 50 hours train journey to a far off land and meet and work with people I have never met before, to a place I never knew existed called Tiruvannamalai.