Anjali Sanu

Behind every traditional Indian art form are the karigars, the artisans whose names rarely make it to plaques or prints. They carve wonder from stone and pigment, weave stories in thread, and shape time with their fingertips. They are calligraphers of craft, poets of precision, and yet, they remain unseen.

Inspired by the rounded rhythm of Rotunda and Uncial calligraphy, Kaligari is a tribute to these unsung masters. It celebrates the soul of Indian artistry, both ancient and alive.

It’s not just a font... it’s karigari, the art of human hands.

"Nothing is ordinary when touched by human hands."

Set your poetry. Shape your poster. Write a letter to your grandmother. Whisper your thoughts, or shout them from the rooftops. Kaligari plays well with others, but it always carries its own quiet charm.

The font’s structure draws from the rich visual traditions of both letter and stone. Marble inlay work, or Parchin Kari, is a centuries-old Indian craft where semi-precious stones are intricately set into marble to form elaborate floral and geometric designs. Brought to its pinnacle during the Mughal era, particularly under Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, it found its most iconic expression in the Taj Mahal. With roots in Persian and Italian techniques, Indian artisans took the form to exquisite new heights.

Similarly, Rotunda and Uncial are calligraphic styles that trace back to medieval Europe. Uncial, with its wide, round majuscule letters, was used in religious manuscripts from the 4th to 8th centuries. Rotunda, emerging in 13th-century southern Europe, softened the sharp edges of Gothic into smooth, circular strokes, much like the rounded floral motifs found in Mughal inlay.

What connects Indian inlay, European script, and the Kaligari typeface is a shared devotion to beauty, harmony, and the human touch. Art forms in different media, across cultures and centuries, echo one another in their roundness, rhythm, and reverence for craft.

Kaligari is where ink meets inlay. Where calligraphy meets karigari. Where your words become more than text—they become a tribute.

‍