The Ministry of Textiles conferred the prestigious Handicraft Awards for 2023 and 2024 on 9th December 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, as part of National Handicrafts Week celebrations. Renowned master artisan and practicing exponent of the Kutch Bandhani Craft, Shri Gulamhusen Khatri, was conferred the prestigious Shilp Guru Award at a distinguished national ceremony held on 9 December 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The award was formally presented by the Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Hon’ble President of India, in recognition of Shri Khatri’s outstanding lifetime contribution to Indian handicrafts and his exemplary role in preserving, practicing, and transmitting the traditional art of Bandhani.

The award entry of Shri Gulamhusen Khatri was named “Chandrokhni” showing a story line of “Full Moon” using Natural Dyes through the traditional process of bandhni known as “Sarkam & Bharti”.

The Shilp Guru Award is one of the highest national honours in the handicrafts sector, instituted to recognize master craftspersons who have achieved excellence in their craft and have dedicated themselves to mentoring and guiding future generations of artisans. The award celebrates individuals who serve as living repositories of traditional knowledge and who play a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of India’s rich and diverse craft heritage. The conferment of this award upon Shri Gulamhusen Khatri is a fitting tribute to his decades-long dedication to the Kutch Bandhani tradition.

The ceremony will be graced by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, presided over by the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, with Shri Pabitra Margherita as Guest of Honour, and attended by dignitaries, senior officials, representatives of cultural institutions, fellow artisans, and members of the craft community from across the country. The presence of the Hon’ble President of India underscored the national importance of safeguarding traditional crafts and honouring the artisans who sustain them through their skill, discipline, and lifelong commitment. The event stood as a celebration of India’s intangible cultural heritage and the master artisans who form its foundation.

The conferment of the Shilp Guru Award by the Hon’ble President of India on 9 December 2025 marks a moment of pride not only for Shri Gulamhusen Khatri and his family but also for the entire Kutch artisan community. It serves as a powerful acknowledgment of the vital role played by practicing master artisans in preserving India’s intangible cultural heritage. The award also highlights the importance of mentorship and intergenerational knowledge transfer in ensuring that traditional crafts continue to thrive.

On this occasion, fellow artisans, students, and admirers have lauded Shri Khatri for his lifelong dedication to Bandhani and his generosity as a teacher. His journey stands as an inspiration to young artisans across the country, demonstrating that unwavering commitment to craft, rootedness in tradition, and service to the community can lead to national recognition and lasting impact.

As India continues to celebrate and safeguard its cultural heritage, the recognition of masters like Shri Gulamhusen Khatri assumes great significance. His Shilp Guru Award is not only an honour for an individual artisan but also a tribute to the enduring legacy of Kutch Bandhani and the countless artisans who sustain this tradition through their skilled hands and lived knowledge. The nation congratulates Shri Gulamhusen Khatri on this distinguished honour and salutes his invaluable contribution to Indian handicrafts.

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