Papier Machie Embroidery Craftsman

LOCATION: Village-Shawl Har Dab, Srinagar, India

Ghulam Mohammad Dar is a master craftsman. What sets him apart was his decision to take on this demanding way earning a living even though he had a choice of a more profitable career. Having a college education laid open a wide selection of carrers to pursue, But Ghulam Dar chose to live the life of a carftsman and nurture the traditional career of his fore fathers.

He has passed on the skills to all of his five children. They have taken it up and he not only heads the joint family set up but is also the backbone of this art in his village. His house is often the gathering place. The receiving room has a coterie of craftsmen working under his able guidance.

An expert in the paper machie style of embroidery, today he has a rich experience of over 40 years. He is at a point in his life where he knows the hardships that a craftsman goes through in his career and is in a constant struggle to provide well for his family. This knowledge saddens him a little, but for a moment. With a sense of purpose, he looks forward with hope and works on guiding the young craftsman under him. He wants to do his bit to secure a vibrant and optimistic future for the art of embroidery.

Ghulam Hassan

LOCATION: Village – Shawlhar Dab, Srinagar, India

Born into a family of craftsmen, Ghulam specializes in the art of “paper machie” embroidery and inherited this art from his father. As a child, he saw his father and uncles sitting by their hearth, embroidering and spinning. No wonder it came naturally to him. Economic necessities saw him take to it from an early age. Educational span was a few years after which he became a full time craftsman. In his mid-thirties today, he has 15 years of experience behind him. Work is on a contract basis of daily wages and he works from 8-10hrs a day. If he doesn’t get embroidery work then it’s farming to supplement the basic income

Raising three children on meager income is a struggle. Daily necessities are barely met, and the education of the children will always be threatened because of inadequate resources. These stark realities fade away when he puts the needle to the cloth and turns out exquisite samples of workmanship.