HOUSE OF KATHIWADA:
A Legacy, Renewed.
Since 1434, the House of Kathiwada (Madhya Pradesh) has carried a legacy on its coat of arms, rooted in divine lineage and a promise to protect its people.
When the family revealed Kathiwada 2034, a 153-acre blueprint for rural revival spanning agri-innovation, community tourism, holistic schools and sports facilities, it became clear their centuries-old arms needed more than a fresh coat of paint. They needed an identity system capable of flexing across palaces, city houses and village squares, while remaining true to the values those arms were built to embody.
Most of us call anything perched atop a helmet a “crest,” but in heraldry the distinction matters.
The coat of arms is the full ensemble—shield, mantling, torse and motto, while the crest is only the figure on the helmet. By clarifying this at our first meeting, Turntable showed we understood this ancient language. We weren’t here merely to revitalise a mark, but to steward seven centuries of symbolism.
We began by auditing every past version of the arms, tracking how stars, moons and floral motifs came and went. Then we convened with Kathiwada’s custodians in what felt more like a family council than a client workshop, unearthing whispered stories, reaffirming the hymn “Whenever evil threatens the people, I shall descend,” and agreeing which traditions deserved a place in the next chapter.
Through that dialogue we learned that each object on Kathiwada’s coat of arms comes straight from Vishnu’s sacred armory, since the family considers itself his descendants.
From the shankha (conch) and chakra (discus) to kaumodaki (mace), padma (lotus) and the Garuda (eagle), these aren’t random flourishes but living values we would carry forward. Our first task was to redraw each of the five elements and reassemble the coat of arms.
With those meanings in our sights, we reversed Garuda’s backward glance so he now peers forward. Inspired by the original single-tone arms, we rendered the updated coat of arms in heraldic “Or” (gold) set against warm neutrals and royal blue, reflecting thoughtfulness and purity of intent. This version will be used exclusively by the family and at Raaj Mahal, their ancestral estate.
For the family’s townhouse in Mumbai, Kathiwada City House, a charming 1960s Art-Deco property.
For it’s identity, we redrew the same five elements, keeping art-deco aesthetics in mind. We then reconstructed the coat of arms in the original maroon hue, balanced with cream, taupe and grey to evoke metropolitan elegance.
Coats of arms can only be used by direct descendants of the family or those bearing the last name. As a separate legal entity, Kathiwada Foundation, the family’s philanthropic arm, could not bear the full arms. Yet it needed a clear link back to the lineage.
We chose Garuda in flight paired with a gentle hill motif derived from the visual signature of the Kathiwada landscape, and introduced a palette of royal and sky blues, ochre, teal and cream to reflect the vibrancy of the communities it serves.
To read about the entire Kathiwada Foundation case study – click here
The result is an identity system that feels unified and alive – with each entity carrying its own purpose, personality and positioning, while being rooted in lineage.
Whether leafing through gilt-edged stationery, passing under a maroon-lined staircase in Mumbai or spotting an ochre-wrapped pavilion in a village square, the story remains the same: a dynasty anchored in heritage, committed to justice and purity, determined to carry its people forward.
In an age when “heritage” risks becoming an empty buzzword, Turntable’s redesign for the House of Kathiwada proves that genuine lineage still matters, especially when it helps write tomorrow’s chapter.
