Shilpgram Festival brings to you this year a family whose 9 generations are working on Rogan Art.

‘Rogan’ a Persian word means “oil based”; the art originated in Persia and migrated to Udaipur 300 years back.  This art form is still kept alive by only one family of a small Village Nirona of Kutch, Gujarat.

Abdul Hameed Khatri  one of the craftsman from this Gujarati family informed that Rogan art was based upon a oil based Pulp, which has been developed by the family by boiling Castor oil for more than 12 hours and then cast into cold water, which produces a thick residue called as Rogan; this thick residue is mixed with natural colors obtained from earth.

With a 6 inch Metal Stick or Pen the Craftman then draw a fine thread which is painted to the cloth.

Rogan painting is delicately and precisely done by one’s own creative imagination and that too by sitting on ground without stands or support.

Rogan Painted cloth is used for making pillow covers, Table cloths, wall hangings, file folders and decorative pieces.

Rogan Art is such a rare art that it is even not very much known to much of the people in India, due to its rare qualities the art is practiced by only one family of Nirona Village of Kutch. Most of the artisans lost the art as it was not passed on during Partition or lost from generation to generations and presently it is the bread earner of the Khatri Family, Abdul said.

Informing further about the art Abdul said that Gaffur Bhai Khatri is the head of Khatri family and he ensures that every individual of his family should learn and practice the art.

The family have won 5 National awards and 5 State level awards and currently opening a school that teaches the art to the upcoming generation of different families.

Adbul also added that till 1993 this art was in raw form but from then on his father Arif Khatri along with Gaffur has brought lot many changes in the Rogan art to make it more beautiful and fine, which is much different than the old Rogan art. It took at least 3 weeks to prepare a design named Tree of Life through Rogan Art.

Abdul’s whole family including the head Gaffur, Arif Sumar,Jumma,Ashraf, Mohammad Haneef, Mohammad Jabbar and Sahil are currently  in this trade and earning their bread through this.