‘Fake Bagh Print?’ Dhar Gifting Row Sparks Official Probe
SDM-level inquiry ordered after artisans claim machine-made stole was passed off as GI-tagged Bagh print at CM’s event.
- Artisans allege gifted stole was not authentic hand-printed Bagh textile
- Controversy erupted after CM Mohan Yadav gifted it to Union Minister JP Nadda
- Bagh print carries GI tag and centuries-old craft legacy
- Dhar Collector orders SDM-level inquiry into procurement trail
GG News Bureau
Dhar, 8th Jan: Madhya Pradesh’s iconic Bagh print, a globally recognised handloom craft and a symbol of the state’s cultural pride, has been pulled into controversy after traditional artisans alleged that a machine-printed stole was presented as an authentic Bagh print at a high-profile government event. The district administration has now ordered an SDM-level inquiry into the matter.
The controversy surfaced after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav gifted a Bagh print stole to Union Health Minister JP Nadda during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a medical college in Dhar on December 23. Soon after photographs from the event circulated on social media, artisans from Bagh village — the cradle of the GI-tagged craft — claimed the stole was not hand-printed but a market-available, machine-made imitation.
Bagh artisans say the alleged lapse has damaged the reputation of the heritage craft and threatens their livelihoods. Mohammad Arif Khatri, a traditional artisan, said authentic Bagh print involves natural dyes, hand-carved wooden blocks and nearly a month-long production process, whereas machine prints can be produced in minutes using chemical colours. “Our craft has a GI tag. Passing off imitations as Bagh print undermines its credibility,” he said.
Bagh print originates from Bagh village in Dhar district and derives its name from the Baghini river. It is defined by its intricate hand-printing technique using vegetable and mineral dyes, a disciplined multi-stage washing and dyeing process, and sun-drying rituals that give the fabric its distinctive texture and durability — features central to its GI certification.
Artisans have written to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Union Ministry of Textiles and GI authorities seeking strict action against those responsible for procurement and protocol lapses. Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra, while stating that Bagh print is now practised by multiple groups and not limited to a single family, acknowledged the complaints and directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to conduct an inquiry into the authenticity and procurement of the gifted stole.
Artisan groups maintain that the controversy goes beyond a single incident. “When a state’s heritage craft is presented in a counterfeit form at official events, it is not just an artistic concern — it becomes a matter of governance and cultural accountability,” they said.
