In Central Kashmir’s Kanihama village of Budgam district, a master Kani Shawl artist is training a generation to keep Kani Shawls alive.
Shabir Ahmad Dar (47), a resident of Kanihama Budgam, who has been associated with Kani Shawl work for decades together has so far trained hundreds of people and is providing them work so as to keep globally famous work alive.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shabir said that his maternal family has been doing Kani Shawl work for around one century. Due to his tremendous work and dedication, his maternal grandfather Ab Qadir Rangrez received a national award in Kani Shawl work in 1965.
“Later my maternal uncle Ab Ahad learned this art, who is at present associated with the work and from him, me and my family have learned this art,” he said.
“I started learning this art when I was studying in 8th Class and used to spend a few hours on a daily basis, however, after completing 12th Class, I started to give my whole time to this work and have been doing this work for around 25-30 years now,” he added.
He said from his Shikargah Handloom Kani Shawl unit, hundreds have got training and among them many are working in the handicraft department while others are earning their livelihood very well. He said that currently he is providing work to over 50 artists after they were trained at his unit.
Shabir said that machine made items have dented several crafts in Kashmir but they haven’t succeeded much in denting the handmade Kani Shawl work.
He said that GI tag has helped people to identify handmade shawls as earlier machine made works were being sold at cost of handmade shawls, adding that there is good demand for Kani Shawl and the government has been supporting artisans by helping them to become part of its exhibitions.
Dar said that he has received national recognition in Jaipur for his work and he is hopeful that he will get more awards in the future.
He said steps like the introduction of GI tag is helping this sector to grow but much more needs to be done so that more people can earn bread and butter from it amidst the rise in unemployment.
Dar said that the government has provided working sheds, free loans and other lighting facilities in their area but there is a need for promotion of this sector, adding that there is a need of providing international market to this sector so that the rates of handmade shawls will go up as it hasn’t increased from the last two decades—(KNO)