Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Arif Khatri, a Bagh print master craftsperson from Madhya Pradesh, is elated that his art has won appreciation from both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Both also tried their hands at printing Bagh designs on cloth.
Arif had set up his stall at the Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025 in the city, which was visited by both Modi and Shah recently. The stall was set up at the MP Pavilion, where handicrafts, textiles and local industries of Madhya Pradesh were showcased.
Representatives from 60 countries attended the two-day Global Investors Summit held in Bhopal, including 13 ambassadors, 6 High Commissioners and several Consuls General.
Arif Khatri who hails from Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh has been into Bagh printing for 15 years and has helped the traditional art win global recognition by linking it with modern designs and techniques. He was honoured with the Award of Excellence by UNESCO and World Crafts Council in 2021. His family has taken the cultural heritage of India and Madhya Pradesh to the international level by exhibiting Bagh prints in many countries including America, England, Germany, Japan, Russia, Spain.
Foreign Delegates, NRIs and many ministers also met Arif and Mohammad Khatri and understood and appreciated the Bagh print art and stamped the Bagh print with their own hands. Mohammad Yusuf Khatri, National Awardee Bilal Khatri and Abdul Karim Khatri also won the hearts of the guests by exhibiting Bagh print in this summit.
