While Kashmir Valley is counted among the most creative regions of the world,&nbsp;women artisans from the valley have not been appreciated as much as their male counterparts. For the first time, a group of women has&nbsp;decided to publicly recognise the female artisans of the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;

A group called 'Fearless Collective' has collaborated with the local artist Zoya Khan, an architect by profession, to lead this project in the Kashmir Valley. Zoya has started painting a four-storey building in the heart of Srinagar to celebrate and appreciate the women artisans of the Kashmir Valley. The mural being made by these artists is of the female artisans who work with crafts like namda, sozni, pashmina, silk and copperware.&nbsp;

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''It's for the first time in Kashmir Valley that women artisans are being appreciated. As you can see, the mural has Kashmiri women artisans making namda, copperware and sozni embroidery and pashmina. Our motive was to send across a message by making this mural on a four-storey building so that people know about the history of our crafts and also focus on Kashmiri craft getting more recognition, '' said Zoya Khan, architect and artisan.&nbsp;

The group has worked across various countries in the world, and it is for the first time that it is working in the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;Zoya is training other local artists who will&nbsp;be taking forward this project. The group of these women say that it's very important to represent women karigars (artisans) of Kashmir by this art intervention in a public space. The female artisans in the valley have never been at the forefront and been a silent force for making sure the craft survives.

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''The work of the fearless collective is to turn up public spaces across the world and work with the local communities to create these huge monuments. While we have worked in over 15 countries and painted over 50 walls with 100's of different community members including indigenous communities in Brazil, refugees in Beirut, domestic workers from Syria and this is of course the first time ever that we have worked in Kashmir and we are working with a Kashmiri artist Zoya khan who is leading this project,'' said Shilo Shiv Sulaiman, founder, Fearless Collective.&nbsp;

"We are working with the women artisans of Kashmir, and we have given them the dignity as the creators of Kashmir. Very often we think about the outstanding craft and the hands that are making them. We wanted to honour those hands,'' she added.&nbsp;

These women in the future want to create many such places where the work of the women artisans of the Kashmir Valley can be put out-front for the public to see.

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While Kashmir Valley is counted among the most creative regions of the world, women artisans from the valley have not been appreciated as much as their male counterparts.

While Kashmir Valley is counted among the most creative regions of the world, women artisans from the valley have not been appreciated as much as their male counterparts. For the first time, a group of women has decided to publicly recognise the female artisans of the Kashmir Valley. A group called 'Fearless Collective' has collaborated with the local artist Zoya Khan, an architect by profession, to lead this project in the Kashmir Valley. Zoya has started painting a four-storey building in the heart of Srinagar to celebrate and appreciate the women artisans of the Kashmir Valley. The mural being made by these artists is of the female artisans who work with crafts like namda, sozni, pashmina, silk and copperware. Also read | Indian Supreme Court orders authorities to ensure no hate speech happens at protests against Nuh violence ''It's for the first time in Kashmir Valley that women artisans are being appreciated. As you can see, the mural has Kashmiri women artisans making namda, copperware and sozni embroidery and pashmina. Our motive was to send across a message by making this mural on a four-storey building so that people know about the history of our crafts and also focus on Kashmiri craft getting more recognition, '' said Zoya Khan, architect and artisan. The group has worked across various countries in the world, and it is for the first time that it is working in the Kashmir Valley. Zoya is training other local artists who will be taking forward this project. The group of these women say that it's very important to represent women karigars (artisans) of Kashmir by this art intervention in a public space. The female artisans in the valley have never been at the forefront and been a silent force for making sure the craft survives. Also read | ‘India a darling of West’, says Pak minister Hina Rabbani Khar, mocks ties with US ''The work of the fearless collective is to turn up public spaces across the world and work with the local communities to create these huge monuments. While we have worked in over 15 countries and painted over 50 walls with 100's of different community members including indigenous communities in Brazil, refugees in Beirut, domestic workers from Syria and this is of course the first time ever that we have worked in Kashmir and we are working with a Kashmiri artist Zoya khan who is leading this project,'' said Shilo Shiv Sulaiman, founder, Fearless Collective. "We are working with the women artisans of Kashmir, and we have given them the dignity as the creators of Kashmir. Very often we think about the outstanding craft and the hands that are making them. We wanted to honour those hands,'' she added. These women in the future want to create many such places where the work of the women artisans of the Kashmir Valley can be put out-front for the public to see. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kashmir's women artisans get long-overdue recognition through murals

Pashmina from the Kashmir Valley is extremely famous, but little is known about the Silk produced in Kashmir. The Mulberry Silk from Kashmir valley is considered of high quality with great demand from across the world.

It is sold across the world with huge demand from buyers. But the main Silk Factory in Jammu Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar was completely damaged in the 2014 floods. And now, with the help of the World Bank, this heritage factory is being restored to its previous&nbsp;glory.&nbsp;

''When we had floods in 2014, more than 50 percent of the machinery was damaged, we have two sections, one is throwing section another one is weaving, we had lost 50 percent of spindles damaged. Earlier, we used to produce 38 varieties of silk but due to the damage, we went down to eight,'' said&nbsp;Zameer Ilahi, Manager of a&nbsp;Silk Factory in Kashmir.

''Due to the machinery and the yarn we use in silk. We couldn't change the twist and because of that we had fixed varieties. We got new machines and equipment and they are class apart, warping and new looms. whatever technical issues we were facing are now being taken care of and we are making new varieties . We will be able to to make 2.5 lakh meters of silk every year,&nbsp;'' he added.

Around 50 thousand families are associated with silk in the Kashmir Valley. And now the world bank has sponsored the restoration of this factory by funding it with more than 12 crore rupees.&nbsp;

''For the first time ever in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, we have actually done a survey and a comprehensive database of artisans has been created. Roundabout 3.5 lakh artisans have been enrolled in that database and we now know which artist caters to which industry. We are targeting 40 thousand families at the end of our project in the silk industry and the revival of the silk industry to make sure in the second stage we link it up with markets like e-commerce so as to provide them a global market. As a result, the&nbsp;industry can revive back to its pristine glory. '' said Abid Rashid Shah, CEO JKERA.

More than 35 varieties of Silk are produced in the Kashmir Valley. And the artisans working in this industry are happy that they will be able to work again to produce world-quality silk in the valley.&nbsp;

'' Since 1984 I have been working here. Due to floods, we lost everything, the new machinery is good, 36 people work here in total. This is a great factory where I have been earning my bread and butter. The money I made here is the reason I could run my house and pay for the education of my children. '' said Fateh Mohammad, Worker.

The new machinery has also helped the artisans in taking off a lot of workload. ''I have been working here for last 30 years, I have been drafting the silk since we lost everything in the 2014 floods and no machine was working. everything we had made, we lost it and even the stuff we have in the showroom was lost too. we used to work on old machines manually but with the new ones we don't have to do much. '' said Mohd Rafiq, Worker.

The factory's resurrection is part of the government's plan to boost silk production across Jammu and Kashmir. 50 thousand cocoon-producing farmers will be benefitted by it.&nbsp;

Pashmina from the Kashmir Valley is extremely famous, but little is known about the Silk produced in Kashmir. The Mulberry Silk from Kashmir valley is considered of high quality with great demand from across the world.

Pashmina from the Kashmir Valley is extremely famous, but little is known about the Silk produced in Kashmir. The Mulberry Silk from Kashmir valley is considered of high quality with great demand from across the world. It is sold across the world with huge demand from buyers. But the main Silk Factory in Jammu Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar was completely damaged in the 2014 floods. And now, with the help of the World Bank, this heritage factory is being restored to its previous glory. ''When we had floods in 2014, more than 50 percent of the machinery was damaged, we have two sections, one is throwing section another one is weaving, we had lost 50 percent of spindles damaged. Earlier, we used to produce 38 varieties of silk but due to the damage, we went down to eight,'' said Zameer Ilahi, Manager of a Silk Factory in Kashmir. ''Due to the machinery and the yarn we use in silk. We couldn't change the twist and because of that we had fixed varieties. We got new machines and equipment and they are class apart, warping and new looms. whatever technical issues we were facing are now being taken care of and we are making new varieties . We will be able to to make 2.5 lakh meters of silk every year, '' he added. Around 50 thousand families are associated with silk in the Kashmir Valley. And now the world bank has sponsored the restoration of this factory by funding it with more than 12 crore rupees. ''For the first time ever in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, we have actually done a survey and a comprehensive database of artisans has been created. Roundabout 3.5 lakh artisans have been enrolled in that database and we now know which artist caters to which industry. We are targeting 40 thousand families at the end of our project in the silk industry and the revival of the silk industry to make sure in the second stage we link it up with markets like e-commerce so as to provide them a global market. As a result, the industry can revive back to its pristine glory. '' said Abid Rashid Shah, CEO JKERA. More than 35 varieties of Silk are produced in the Kashmir Valley. And the artisans working in this industry are happy that they will be able to work again to produce world-quality silk in the valley. '' Since 1984 I have been working here. Due to floods, we lost everything, the new machinery is good, 36 people work here in total. This is a great factory where I have been earning my bread and butter. The money I made here is the reason I could run my house and pay for the education of my children. '' said Fateh Mohammad, Worker. The new machinery has also helped the artisans in taking off a lot of workload. ''I have been working here for last 30 years, I have been drafting the silk since we lost everything in the 2014 floods and no machine was working. everything we had made, we lost it and even the stuff we have in the showroom was lost too. we used to work on old machines manually but with the new ones we don't have to do much. '' said Mohd Rafiq, Worker. The factory's resurrection is part of the government's plan to boost silk production across Jammu and Kashmir. 50 thousand cocoon-producing farmers will be benefitted by it.

Century old silk factory renovated, 50 thousand families to benefit in valley

Kashmir’s Pashmina and Sozni (needle) work is famous all over the world but with the changing market trends, this craft is gasping for survival.

However, a specially-abled man is not only trying to save this art but has also brought together 40 more people like him and created a self-help group with a focus on the revival of this craft.&nbsp;

Every morning in the neighbourhood of Gotapora in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district voices singing songs of joy and love echo. It is Tariq Ahmad and his associates starting their day at work with Kashmiri folk songs.

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Tariq is an award-winning Sozni craftsman and has been suffering from muscular dystrophy, a rare neurological disorder that leads to degeneration of muscles. His condition hasn’t held him back from starting this group of 40 craftsmen. They have aptly named it the 'Special Hands of Kashmir'.

It's the first time any such group of specially-abled people in the valley have come together and are creating unique pieces of craft.&nbsp;

"I am thankful to you for coming to us, Special Hands of Kashmir is a group of artisans who are specially-abled, I am myself 90 per cent handicap but we are committed to promote and revive the craft of Sozni. We need to bring in new designs, new products to create a market," Tariq Ahmad said. "We, at Special Hands, tried a few new things like khadi sari with Sozni work, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked people to promote Khadi. It got us inspired and we made use of it. We got a great response. We are trying to keep the traditional work alive with bringing in new changes as well.''&nbsp;

Tariq has received many national and state awards for his exemplary work. He has helped in reviving the art of Sozni in the valley and also managed to put a big group of specially-abled together to save the craft. For him, it all started from his home as two of his brothers also suffer from the same disorder as him. That has not stopped the brothers from fulfilling their dreams.

"We are three brothers, all handicapped. Our father has been working on this craft for many decades, and he encouraged us to take up this craft. People used to treat us a little different and many thought we would not do anything but beg on the streets. I wanted to do something so I decided that not only my family but I should get others who are looked down upon by society to work with us. I managed to get dozens of specially-abled people to join this group so that they can earn their livelihood&nbsp;and now I am proud of it. People who used to say they won't be able to do anything, we proved them wrong. I am sure we will have more than 1000 artisans who are specially-abled joining us in the future," Ahmad said.&nbsp;

There are around 40 specially-abled craftsmen working with Tariq and more than 500 are associated with his group indirectly. He has personally trained all of these 40 artisans and wants to create a chain where more and more people could join this group. His only goal is to work for specially-abled and make them independent.&nbsp;

"Tariq and I have known each other for long. He told me about his group and asked me to join. He convinced me that after joining I will be independent and able to earn my livelihood. Although my family is into the same craft, it was Tariq who trained me and helped me and today I am able to earn my livelihood. Now we are also asking others to join us so that they can earn their livelihood from this too,"&nbsp;said Shahnawaz Ahmad, a member of the group.&nbsp;

Tariq is not only incorporating new designs into this craft but has also become an inspiration to thousands of specially-abled across the country by giving them hope that they can achieve their dreams too.

Kashmir’s Pashmina and Sozni (needle) work is famous all over the world but with the changing market trends, this craft is gasping for survival. However, a specially-abled man is not only trying to save this art but has also brought together 40 more people like him and created a self-help group with a focus on the revival of this craft.

Kashmir’s Pashmina and Sozni (needle) work is famous all over the world but with the changing market trends, this craft is gasping for survival. However, a specially-abled man is not only trying to save this art but has also brought together 40 more people like him and created a self-help group with a focus on the revival of this craft. Every morning in the neighbourhood of Gotapora in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district voices singing songs of joy and love echo. It is Tariq Ahmad and his associates starting their day at work with Kashmiri folk songs. Also read | IIT Madras alumni’s startup 3D prints 600sqft concrete home comprising hall, kitchen, bedroom Tariq is an award-winning Sozni craftsman and has been suffering from muscular dystrophy, a rare neurological disorder that leads to degeneration of muscles. His condition hasn’t held him back from starting this group of 40 craftsmen. They have aptly named it the 'Special Hands of Kashmir'. It's the first time any such group of specially-abled people in the valley have come together and are creating unique pieces of craft. "I am thankful to you for coming to us, Special Hands of Kashmir is a group of artisans who are specially-abled, I am myself 90 per cent handicap but we are committed to promote and revive the craft of Sozni. We need to bring in new designs, new products to create a market," Tariq Ahmad said. "We, at Special Hands, tried a few new things like khadi sari with Sozni work, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked people to promote Khadi. It got us inspired and we made use of it. We got a great response. We are trying to keep the traditional work alive with bringing in new changes as well.'' Tariq has received many national and state awards for his exemplary work. He has helped in reviving the art of Sozni in the valley and also managed to put a big group of specially-abled together to save the craft. For him, it all started from his home as two of his brothers also suffer from the same disorder as him. That has not stopped the brothers from fulfilling their dreams. "We are three brothers, all handicapped. Our father has been working on this craft for many decades, and he encouraged us to take up this craft. People used to treat us a little different and many thought we would not do anything but beg on the streets. I wanted to do something so I decided that not only my family but I should get others who are looked down upon by society to work with us. I managed to get dozens of specially-abled people to join this group so that they can earn their livelihood and now I am proud of it. People who used to say they won't be able to do anything, we proved them wrong. I am sure we will have more than 1000 artisans who are specially-abled joining us in the future," Ahmad said. There are around 40 specially-abled craftsmen working with Tariq and more than 500 are associated with his group indirectly. He has personally trained all of these 40 artisans and wants to create a chain where more and more people could join this group. His only goal is to work for specially-abled and make them independent. "Tariq and I have known each other for long. He told me about his group and asked me to join. He convinced me that after joining I will be independent and able to earn my livelihood. Although my family is into the same craft, it was Tariq who trained me and helped me and today I am able to earn my livelihood. Now we are also asking others to join us so that they can earn their livelihood from this too," said Shahnawaz Ahmad, a member of the group. Tariq is not only incorporating new designs into this craft but has also become an inspiration to thousands of specially-abled across the country by giving them hope that they can achieve their dreams too.

Specially-abled artisans saving the Pashmina and Sozni craft

Highly prized and super-soft cashmere Pashmina wool is one of the world's finest fabrics but the pashmina industry is facing a serious threat due to ongoing border dispute between nuclear neighbours India and China.

The highly coveted wool comes from the fine undercoat of a breed of a Himalayan goat. Pashmina goats are reared in the high-altitude areas of Ladakh.

It is called the 'roof of the world' and has been at the centre of heightened tensions between India and China for weeks.

The goats have been pushed away from the grazing land because of the military tensions and the timing couldn't have been worse.

This happens to be the breeding season for the pashmina goats, around 85 per cent of the newborns died this year.

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That's tens of thousands of goats this would impact the production of the pashmina wool. One of the key pillars of the handicrafts industry in the region. Pashmina shawls are sold the world over.

At an altitude of over 16,400 feet, more than 1,000 families of nomadic herders roam the vast Changthang plateau in Ladakh.&nbsp;

Grazing some 300,000 pashmina goats, these herders have already been struggling due to the impact of climate change. The winters are now harsher and the summers drier.&nbsp;

Some have even migrated to towns in Ladakh to look for other means of livelihood.

Those who stayed back, now find themselves caught in military tensions between India and China.

Highly prized and super-soft cashmere Pashmina wool is one of the world's finest fabrics but the pashmina industry is facing a serious threat due to ongoing border dispute between nuclear neighbours India and China.

Highly prized and super-soft cashmere Pashmina wool is one of the world's finest fabrics but the pashmina industry is facing a serious threat due to ongoing border dispute between nuclear neighbours India and China. The highly coveted wool comes from the fine undercoat of a breed of a Himalayan goat. Pashmina goats are reared in the high-altitude areas of Ladakh. It is called the 'roof of the world' and has been at the centre of heightened tensions between India and China for weeks. The goats have been pushed away from the grazing land because of the military tensions and the timing couldn't have been worse. This happens to be the breeding season for the pashmina goats, around 85 per cent of the newborns died this year. That's tens of thousands of goats this would impact the production of the pashmina wool. One of the key pillars of the handicrafts industry in the region. Pashmina shawls are sold the world over. At an altitude of over 16,400 feet, more than 1,000 families of nomadic herders roam the vast Changthang plateau in Ladakh. Grazing some 300,000 pashmina goats, these herders have already been struggling due to the impact of climate change. The winters are now harsher and the summers drier. Some have even migrated to towns in Ladakh to look for other means of livelihood. Those who stayed back, now find themselves caught in military tensions between India and China.

Pashmina wool caught up in border dispute between India and China

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