Non-local skilled workers take up Kashmir’s famed art

Wood Carving In Its Last Throes

Manzoor Ahmed Shah, 57-years-old, has seen the best of the times when the downtown area in Srinagar had hundreds of wood carving artisans. However, at present skilled artisans, knowing the intricate details of wood carving, can be counted on finger tips. Ironically, non-local skilled workers working in factories in Kashmir are taking up the wood carving as their means of livelihood.

“Only few artisans are now working on wood,” said Shah in a low tone.

Products made of walnut wood artistically designed by the Kashmiri artisans have world wide appeal. However, the low wages, exploitation by the businessmen and government’s apathy has sounded death knell for this centuries-old craft.

The process of wood carving is time-consuming.

“The wood is first kept in open for three to five years so that it becomes strong enough to bear any climatic conditions, then an artisan can start beautifying this plain piece in to a jewel,” said Shah

The art is, however, facing the threat of going extinct.

“Our society was well trained but we are not ready to work today?” Ask Ali Mohammad, an artisan from downtown.

The existence of middleman between the artisan and the buyer has also added to their miseries.

“They purchase the goods at lower price from artisans and sell it at higher prices,” said Zubair Yaqoob, a student of Economics.

He said Government Arts Emporium was established to end the job of a middle man “but the corruption in this office has ruined its cause and is causing losses for artisans.

“Instead of supporting, Government Arts Emporium is harassing us,” said another artisan Noor Mohammad.

The artisans complained that they have not received any relief from the government for the losses they suffered in September 2014 floods.

“Even insurance companies did not cover our losses for the loan we had taken from JK Bank,” said

Ali Mohammad, another artisan from downtown.

J&K Bank Manger at Khanyar Branch Ghulam Mohammad Ahanger said artisans have not covered their loan in any insurance policy.

“It is customer’s responsibility to ask us to do insurance on loan. We are not responsible.”

The bank manger of another branch, whishing anonymity, said that the insurance is already covered on loans.

Wood carving is also witnessing its last days and younger generation is least interested in this work.

“Seeing our plight no one will ever prefer to carve wood,” said a wood carver, Manzoor Shah. “If I want to teach this art, no one would be ready to learn it.”

The art of wood carving dates back 550 years in Kashmir brought and taught by Saayids under the tutelage of Shah-i-Hamdan (RA) of Turkistan.

These artisans use nearly 200 tools such as Adwatih, Trugari, Ruthwal, Patijvol are few to name.

“Our tool box contains huge variety of apparatus from minute needles to massive wooden hammers,” said Noor Mohammad.

Hundreds of designs are carved out on the walnut wood such as Chinar, almond, grape leaves.

The artisans said that it takes 30 years to attain the proficiency in this art.

They earn only for sustenance.

“Our monthly earning does not exceed Rs 7000,” said Ali Mohammad.

They earn slightly higher than what is prescribed in the Government of India’s report of the Expert Group to Review the Methodology for Measurement of Poverty, 2014.

Noor Mohammad said sometimes it becomes very difficult to make both ends meet.

The artisans are also unwilling to allow their children to learn the art.

“The handicraft sector of the state has sizable contribution from foreign exchange earnings to the state and country in particular,” states the Economic survey of J&K 2014-15.

It further stated that wood carving is an essential part of it and have worldwide market and hence the government must provide the financial help to them and make their living standards better.

Ironically, some of the wood carvers from other states are hired in Kashmir by traders.

“In the Babadem area there are workers brought from Utter Predesh who do wood carving. They then pass off the product as real Kashmiri brand,” said Aijaz Rasool, a Srinagar based entrepreneur.