For over eight generations, the Khatri family of Nirona village in Kutch had sustained their livelihood through Rogan-Painting textiles. Traditionally, these intricately hand-painted fabrics were created for skirts, quilt covers, bags, tablecloths, odhanis, and ghaghara-cholis used by the local communities.
However, everything changed after the 1950s.

With the arrival of machine-made industrial fabrics, the market for handmade textiles collapsed. By the late 1980s, Rogan Art was on the verge of extinction. With no customers and no income, the Khatri family—the custodians of this centuries-old art—sank into severe poverty.
The journey of Rogan Art in our family has never been easy.

Two brothers — Padma Shri Abdul Gafur Khatri and his younger brother National Award Winner Sumar Khatri — grew up in hardships. There was a time when Abdulgafur sold vegetables, and Sumar worked at a tea shop, earning only Tow Rupees per day. The struggle was so intense that we did not even have five Rupees, and both of us were forced to drop out of school. Like thousands in Kutch during the drought years, we worked as laborers simply to survive.
After witnessing the financial struggles of our father and grandfather, Abdulgafur decided not to continue in Rogan Art. “I decided not to follow the profession. I went to Mumbai to work,” he said. “But fate had other plans for me. I received a letter from my grandfather in 1984 asking me to come back since there wasn’t anyone in the family to carry on our legacy.”

Around the same time, in the early 1980s, Abdulgafur too moved to Ahmedabad and Mumbai, searching for ways to support the family. But in 1985, when the Gujarat government initiated a revival project for Rogan Art, he returned to Nirona—determined to rebuild the craft rather than allow it to disappear forever.

Revival and Reinvention of Rogan Art

Earlier, Rogan work was more rough and functional. But in 1985, Abdulgafur Khatri decided to transform it into an art form. Together with his brother Sumar Daud Khatri, he introduced new innovations, the most iconic being the “Tree of Life” design, which today is world-famous.

By exploring new avenues and creating products for global markets instead of just local communities, he ensured Rogan Art gained international recognition. What was once a declining craft for household textiles was elevated into a fine art form, admired by art collectors, fashion designers, and cultural institutions worldwide.

Recognition and Global Appreciation

Shri Abdulgafur Khatri His family work has been showcased at Lakmé Fashion Week (2015), UK Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week (2022). His family home in Nirona, just 40 km from Bhuj, has become a living museum of Rogan Art, attracting visitors from more than 70 countries including the USA, UK, Italy, France, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, South Africa, Belgium, New Zealand, Canada, Greece, Dubai, Bahrain, Brazil, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, and Mexico.

The true renaissance of Rogan Art came in 2014, when Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji gifted two Rogan Art “Tree of Life” masterpieces to former US President Barack Obama. More recently, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark received a Rogan Art Tree of Life created by Abdulgafur and his brother Sumar Khatri. Since then, Rogan Art has become a symbol of India’s cultural pride, often chosen as an official state gift.

Shri Modi ji has personally known the Khatri family since 2006 and has supported their efforts in keeping this rare tradition alive. Abdulgafur Khatri himself has demonstrated Rogan Art to the Prime Minister and many other dignitaries, always reminding them of the importance of passing this art to future generations.

Teaching and Women Empowerment

In 2010, the Khatri family began teaching Rogan Art to ensure its continuity and survival. The most significant breakthrough was the inclusion of women, who were earlier not allowed to learn this art due to traditional restrictions.

Today, hundreds of girls and students have been trained in Rogan Art, marking a new chapter in its history. Khatri Shahenajbanu Sumar became the first woman in the family to practice Rogan Art, inspiring many more to join.

Awards and Honors

The Abdulgafur Khatri family has been honored with numerous awards for their extraordinary contribution, including:

• Padma Shri Award (one of India’s highest civilian honors)

• 2 International Craft Awards

• 4 National Awards

• 3 National Merit Certificates

• 8 State Awards

• World Book of Records, London Certificate (2023)

Legacy and Cultural Significance

Although some techniques are now known outside the family, the real mastery and intricate details of Rogan Art remain with the Khatris, who have preserved this tradition for over four centuries.

Today, Shri Abdulgafur Khatri and his family continue to balance preservation with innovation — sustaining livelihoods, empowering women, inspiring new generations, and keeping alive one of India’s rarest and most beautiful art forms.