Mohammad Maqbool Dar of village Ashtangoo Bandipora, is a carpet weaving artisan and is all set to gain fame after weaving the Indian Tricolor in a silk carpet with a desire to present it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The 40-year-old Dar, who last year created urban women in traditional dress on the bank of a lake with a donga boat alongside eye-catching colours in a wall hanging carpet gained his fame after onlookers were left mesmerised and stunned at the “Srinagar Hunar Haat”. It fetched him a huge amount.
Dar has been weaving carpets for the past 20-years and has 20 looms in Bandipora district where about 50 young girls from poor families are weaving different wall hangs and name plates of high officials with zeal and zest to earn their livelihood.
Dar said he and his team of girls will take a month-and-a-half to complete the 4x4 carpet, which they wish to present to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
He said, “I just want that by presenting the Indian tricolour to the Prime Minister and Lieutenant Governor, the artisans, especially the poor 50 young girls who are working on the looms, should be provided a helping hand so that they can live their lives comfortably”.
He said these hard working girls are earning between Rs.2000 and Rs.3000 per month, which isn’t for their well-being.
He said the idea of transforming different colourful paintings of animals, scenic places and culture in a carpet is actually being provided by the girls who are working with him. And the “Talim” for weaving the similar carpet wall hangings are being provided by the Indian Institution of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar.
He said after seeing my carpet wall hangings made by young girls, the IICT provided me raw material free of cost for the promotion of a new chapter of the carpet weaving in Kashmir valley.
Dar said, the big carpets are no longer in demand and we are trying to make all different kinds of items so that they could be sold in the market very easily.
Interestingly, Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Pandurang K Pole, Jammu and Kashmir Bank Managing Director and CEO Baldev Prakash and Superintendent of Police (Bandipora) has also given orders for name plates on 2 x 3 size carpets to Dar and his team. Dar said “All name plates are ready for delivery”.
Dar said, “our incredible 2021 painting on the carpet was worthy to honour us with a big award for our encouragement, even though we submitted a form for that, but don’t know what happen”.
Dar appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide special aid to the carpet weavers, especially the young poor girls for their uplift in the society.