Sangri Gets Its Due: Rajasthan’s Desert Bean Earns GI Tag
In the blistering heat of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, where little survives and even less thrives, a twisted, sun-dried bean has fed an entire populace. That bean, Sangri, has now officially joined the ranks of the world’s most iconic regional specialties, like Italy’s Parmigiano Reggiano and Mexico’s Tequila, with the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
This recognition is the result of a collective effort led by Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner which filed for the GI tag along with a team of lawyers, food experts, farmers, and community members who believe in preserving Rajasthan’s food heritage. The official certificate is currently in process and will be granted soon by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.
Central to Sangri’s story is the Khejri tree it grows on. For centuries, the Bishnoi community has protected the Khejri with that one can only name devotion, often risking their lives to defend it. And in doing so, they have safeguarded a tree that holds together the fragile desert ecosystem.
What exactly is Sangri?
Sangri is a slender, bean-like pod that grows on Khejri, Rajasthan’s state tree, revered across the vast desert. Often dubbed the "lifeline of the desert," the tree is also known as the Kalpavriksha, or divine wish-fulfilling tree.
Where its leaves provide essential fodder for cattle during dry months, its roots help hold the fragile desert soil together, preventing erosion, and its shade offers much-needed relief from the harsh sun.
Come summer time, when the sun scorches the land and water is even more scarce, families go out to the thorny Khejri trees to handpick the sangri pods. In a place where growing food is tough, Sangri provides a rare and valuable source of protein and iron.
The protection of this tree, and by extension, Sangri, owes much to the Bishnoi community. Rooted in principles of environmental conservation, the Bishnois have long considered the Khejri tree sacred. Their commitment was immortalised in the 18th century, when Amrita Devi Bishnoi led a non-violent resistance to stop the felling of Khejri trees by royal forces. Her words, "Sar sāntey rūkh rahe to bhī sasto jān", meaning "If a tree is saved at the cost of one’s head, it’s still a bargain," started a movement that saw over 360 Bishnois lay down their lives to protect the trees.
This act of ecological martyrdom remains a powerful example of community-led conservation, a reminder of how indigenous knowledge systems and cultural traditions are often our best defense against environmental degradation.
Why the GI tag is a big deal
A GI tag is like a passport for regional identity. Just as Nagpur Oranges can only come from Nagpur, Maharashtra, now only Sangri grown in Rajasthan can carry the name.
The GI tag journey for Sangri was a bureaucratic process driven by genuine admiration and a desire to give back. Prasanna Bhagwan Deshbhakht, a lawyer and founder of Bangalore-based Lexnovate Legal & Co filled the application for GI tag of Sangri. He first heard about the Khejri tree through his Marwari friends who spoke fondly of ker and sangri. When he learned about the Bishnoi community, who have protected this tree for centuries he began researching a bit more.
“Khejdi is such an important tree for the state but when I asked whether there were any on-ground efforts to protect it, I didn't really find much,” he shares. “I thought the tree needed protection. And a GI tag could be one way to do that.”
With that intent, he began the research, the paperwork, and the application process. “Even though it is the state tree, people outside Rajasthan didn’t really care for it. But the moment it gets the GI tag, it becomes known to the world that such a tree exists, that something called Sangri exists. And that matters — it brings visibility, money, trade, and recognition.”
India currently has over 600 registered Geographical Indication tags, covering famous teas and spices to handicrafts and food products. But the government’s vision is much bigger. By 2030, India aims to have around 10,000 GI tags to celebrate and protect the country’s incredible diversity of regional specialties.
A weapon, not a decoration
For communities, GI tag is a powerful tool and acts like a legitimate seal of authenticity, so that, in this case, only Sangri grown in Rajasthan’s specific desert regions can be sold under that name. Much like how only wine grown in the Champaign region of France can be called and sold as Champaign.
This helps in protecting farmers from cheap imitations and ensuring people around the country or the world can get the authentic, high-quality product. This legal protection helps farmers earn better prices and gain the much deserved recognition, encouraging them to continue traditional sustainable practices rather than moving away from their roots.
Beyond economics, the GI tag preserves centuries-old indigenous knowledge of harvesting and preparing Sangri, keeping Rajasthan’s food heritage alive. It also puts Sangri on the global map, inviting the world to discover this unique desert bean and even represent the region on a global level .
Prasanna shares that they are currently working on securing GI tags for about 15 more products from Rajasthan. This growing momentum signals a brighter future for many indigenous foods and crafts that have long been overlooked.
While the GI tag is a very proud moment for many of us, we must view it not as a decoration, but as a weapon, a tool to fight for the protection, recognition, and rightful place of Sangri in our food systems. This should be the starting point for ensuring the ingredient receives its due diligence, the Khejri tree gets the ecological protection it so deserves, and the farmers and communities, who have long been custodians of this knowledge are treated with the utmost respect and reverence.
Now is the time for young people to step forward, to innovate, advocate, and create bridges that connect Sangri to kitchens across the country and around the world. Let this recognition spark not only pride but purpose, to make sure that this desert bean, and the culture it represents, is preserved, celebrated, and sustained for as long as we can help it.
