From Craftsman to Labourer: The Elegy of a Fading Tradition
Abdul Rehman Kumhar, a former master craftsman of the Qaaleen Baafi art, reflects on the decline of his once-thriving craft in Bacchroo village, Kulgam. The story illustrates his transformation from a celebrated artisan to a labourer, emblematic of a fading tradition. Governmental support waned, and market dynamics turned against them, leaving the community in despair. Kumhar's hopes for a revival seem bleak, and the art, like his dreams, faces a slow decline. His family now grapples with the hardships of their changed circumstances, as the legacy of this once-proud craft fades into obscu...
Source: kashmirlife.net